Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research

@CGIAR
Study Paper Number 19

Burma and the CGIAR Centers
A Study of Their Collaboration in Agricultural Research

Kyaw Zin

Burma and the CGIAR Centers

CGIAR Study Papers
No. I No. 2 No. 3 No. 4 No. 5 No. 6 No. 7 No. 8 No. 9 No. 10 No. 11 No. 12 No. 13 No. 14 No. 15 No. 16 No. 17 No. I8 TechnologicalInnovation in Agriculture The Political Economy of Its Rate and Bias Modem Varieties, International Agricultural Research, and the Poor Plant Genetic Resources:The Impact o f the International Agricultural Research Centers
i a and the CGIAR Centers: A Study of Their Collaboration in Agricultural Research Costa R

Guatemala and the CGIAR Centers: A Study of Their Collaboration in Agricultural Research Zimbabwe and the CGIAR Centers: A Study o f Their Collaboration in Agricultural Research Nepal and the CGIAR Centers: A Study of Their Collaboration in Agricultural Research Bangladeshand the CGIAR Centers: A Study of Their Collaboration in Agricultural Research Brazil and the CGIAR Centers: A Study of Their Collaboration in Agricultural Research Indonesia and the CGIAR Centers: A Study of Their Collaboration in Agricultural Research Ecuador and the CGIAR Centers: A Study of Their Collaboration in Agricultural Research Peru and the CGIAR Centers: A Study of Their Collaboration in Agricultural Research Syria and the CGIAR Centers: A Study of Their Collaboration in Agricultural Research Cuba and the CGIAR Centers: A Study of Their Collaboration in Agricultural Research Philippines and the CGIAR Centers A Study of Their Collaboration in Agricultural Research Thailand and the CGIAR Centers: A Study of Their Collaboration in Agricultural Research Gender-RelatedImpacts and the Work o f the International Agricultural Research Centers India and the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-AridTropics: A Study of Their Collaboration in Agricultural Research

Consultative Group on International Agriculhual Research

CGIAR
Study Paper Number 19

Burrna and the CGIAR Centers
A Study of Their Collaboration i n Agricultural Research

Kyaw Zin

The World Bank Washington, D.C.

Copyright 01986 The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development//THE WORLD BANK 1818 H Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20433,U.S.A. First printing November 1986 All rights reserved Manufactured in the United States of America At its annual meeting in November 1983 the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR)commissioned a wide-ranging impact study of the results of the activities of the international agriculturalresearch oganizations under its sponsorship. An Advisory Committee was appointed to oversee the study and to present the principal findings at the annual meeetings of the CGIAR in October 1985. The impact study director was given responsibility for preparing the main report and f the commissioning a series of papers on particular research issues and on the work o centers in selected countries. This paper is one of that series. The judgments expressed herein are those of the authods). They do not necessarily reflect the views of the World Bank, of affiliated organizations, including the CGIAR Secretariat,of the international agricultural research centers supported by the CGIAR, of the donors to the CGIAR, or of any individual acting on their behalf. Staff of many national and international organizations provided valued information, but neither they nor their institutions are responsible for the views expressed in this paper. Neither are the views necessarily consistent with those expressed in the main and summary reports, and they should not be attributed to the Advisory Committee or the study director. This paper has been prepared and published informally in order to share the information with the least possible delay. Kyaw Zin is former vice chancellor of the Institute of Agriculture at Yezin, Burma.

8

Library o f Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data ,Ryaw Z i n , 1929Burma and the CGIAR c e n t e r s .

(CGIAR study paper, ISSN 0257-3148 ; no. 19) Bibliography : p. 1. Agriculture--Research--Bumas 2. Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research. 3 . Agriculture--Research--International cooperation. I . T i t l e . TI. S e r i e s : Study paper (Consultative Group on Internatianal Agricultural Research) ; no. 19. 86-28068 S542.B93K93 1986 630 ' .72 0591 ISBN 0-8213-0861-0

V

Summary
T h i s r e p o r t on t h e c o l l a b o r a t i o n b e t w e e n i n t e r n a t i o n a l a g r i c u l t u r a l research c e n t e r s ( I A R C s ) and t h e a g r i c u l t u r a l research s y s t e m of Burma was u n d e r t a k e n a t t h e r e q u e s t o f t h e C G I A R impact

Study.
The main o b j e c t i v e s of t h i s r e p o r t a r e t o p r o v i d e :
(1)
(2) A p i c t u r e o f t h e c o l l a b o r a t i o n between CGIAR-supported

(3)

(4) (5)

I A R C s and Burma; An assessment o f how i n t e r n a t i o n a l i n p u t s have c o n t r i b u t e d t o n a t i o n a l research c a p a c i t y ; An e v a l u a t i o n of t h e r e l e v a n c e and i m p a c t of t h e c e n t e r s ' t r a i n i n g programs; A summary of t h e impact on food p r o d u c t i o n ; and A d i s c u s s i o n o f t h e way i n which selected t e c h n o l o g i e s o r i g i n a t i n g i n t h e centers h a v e b e e n t r a n s m i t t e d t h r o u g h n a t i o n a l programs t o farmers.

A g r i c u l t u r e is t h e m a i n s t a y o f t h e Burmese economy. I n 1982-83, a g r i c u l t u r a l p r o d u c t s a c c o u n t e d f o r 52 percent o f t h e t o t a l e x p o r t s , 38 p e r c e n t of GDP. The s e c t o r employed 64 p e r c e n t of t h e l a b o r force. The p r o s p e c t s of Burma's economy h i n g e on t h e p e r f o r m a n c e of t h e a g r i c u l t u r a l s e c t o r . The b u l k of t h e r u r a l p o p u l a t i o n l i v e s n e a r t h e s u b s i s t e n c e level, and improved s m a l l farm p r o d u c t i v i t y i s a p r e r e q u i s i t e f o r m e e t i n g t h e i r b a s i c needs

.

Rice is t h e s t a p l e f o o d o f t h e p e o p l e a n d i s a n i m p o r t a n t s o u r c e of f o r e i g n exchange. The g o v e r n m e n t is g i v i n g t h e h i g h e s t P r i o r i t y t o d e v e l o p m e n t o f r i c e l a n d and i m p r o v e d r i c e p r o d u c t i o n . The area u n d e r r i c e was more t h a n 12 m i l l i o n acres i n 1984, a n d r i c e p r o d u c t i o n was more t h a n 689 m i l l i o n b a s k e t s
(14 H t ) .

vi

A g r i c u l t u r a l p o l i c y , i n c l u d i n g t h a t f o r r e s e a r c h , is s e t by t h e Burma S o c i a l i s t Programme Party and Council of S t a t e . Overall r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r managing and i m p l e m e n t i n g a g r i c u l t u r a l a c t i v i t i e s rests w i t h t h e M i n i s t r y of A g r i c u l t u r e and Forests. W i t h i n t h i s m i n i s t r y , t h e A g r i c u l t u r e Corporation i s r e s p o n s i b l e f o r a l l a s p e c t s of c r o p r e s e a r c h , development and production; O t h e r government a g e n c i e s c o o r d i n a t e water resources, provide mechanized l a n d p r e p a r a t i o n , procure crops, provide c r e d i t and t r a i n s t a f f . The government o p e r a t e s a compulsory procurement s y s t e m f o r paddy, j u t e and cotton. Locally e l e c t e d f u n c t i o n a r i e s of t h e Burma S o c i a l i s t Programme Party, t h e Peasants and Workers A s s o c i a t i o n s and t h e People's Councils m o b i l i z e and l e a d t h e farmers. S t a f f from t h e A g r i c u l t u r e Research I n s t i t u t e , t h e Applied Research Division and Extension Division were made r e s p o n s i b l e f o r t h e planning, execution and e v a l u a t i o n of a l l phases of t h e crop development programs.
The i n v e s t m e n t a l l o c a t e d f o r t h e a g r i c u l t u r e s e c t o r was i n c r e a s e d from 548 m i l l i o n k y a t s in 1979-80 t o 920 m i l l i o n k y a t s i n 1983-84.

Burma's use of e x t e r n a l a s s i s t a n c e has b e e n r i s i n g s t e a d i l y s i n c e 1970. With a s s i s t a n c e from t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l a g r i c u l t u r e r e s e a r c h c e n t e r s , t h e a g r i c u l t u r e r e s e a r c h departments and o t h e r a g e n c i e s u n d e r t h e A g r i c u l t u r e Corporation have g r e a t l y increased y i e l d s of r i c e , maize, sorghum, wheat, c o t t o n , j u t e , sugarcane and food legumes i n Burma.
The s t a f f of t h e A g r i c u l t u r e Corporation c u r r e n t l y t o t a l s about 18,000, of which 2,239 hold A g r i c u l t u r e Science degrees. F i f t e e n have PhDs, 40 have Master's d e g r e e s and t h e r e s t have BSc ( A g r i c u l t u r e ) o r BAg degrees. Many i n t e r n a t i o n a l l y a i d e d p r o j e c t s a s s i s t i n g a g r i c u l t u r e development have recognized t h e

vii

n e e d f o r t r a i n i n g , a n d a b o u t 15 percent o f t h e f u n d s h a v e b e e n u s e d f o r t r a i n i n g components. Burma c o o p e r a t e s c l o s e l y w i t h I R R I , C I M M Y T a n d I C R I S A T ab well a s w i t h o t h e r centers s u c h a s I I T A , C I A T a n d IBPCR. From these i n t e r n a t i o n a l c e n t e r s , Burma h a s r e c e i v e d g e n e t i c m a t e r i a l s , t r a i n i n g f e l l o w s h i p s and o p p o r t u n i t i e s t o e s t a b l i s h c o n t a c t s w i t h r e s e a r c h w o r k e r s and s c i e n t i s t s i n other c o u n t r i e s t o p e r m i t t h e c o n t i n u o u s e x c h a n g e o f ideas. P u b l i c a t i o n s from m o s t of these c e n t e r s a r e a l s o s e n t t o t h e n a t i o n a l research institutes.
The t r a n s m i s s i o n of i n n o v a t i o n s is a c c o m p l i s h e d m a i n l y through t h e Extension D i v i s i o n of t h e Agriculture Corporation. The r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s o f t h i s d i v i s i o n a r e t o : d i s s e m i n a t e a g r i c u l t u r a l research f i n d i n g s ; i m p l e m e n t t h e a n n u a l a g r i c u l t u r a l p l a n ; d i s t r i b u t e e s s e n t i a l s u p p l i e s t o t h e farmers a n d a s s i s t i n p r o c u r e m e n t of f h e s e i n p u t s ; d i s t r i b u t e p u r e seeds i n c o o r d i n a t i o n w i t h t h e c e n t r a l f a r m s and h e l p t o c o o r d i n a t e t h e a g r i c u l t u r a l a c t i v i t i e s w i t h t h e v i l l a g e c o u n c i l s and t o w n s h i p

councils.

viii

Acknowledgments
T h e a u t h o r i s d e e p l y i n d e b t e d t o U K h i n Win, M a n a g i n g Director, A g r i c u l t u r e C o r p o r a t i o n , and t h e C o r p o r a t i o n s t a f f f o r providing a l l t h e n e c e s s a r y f a c i l i t i e s and f o r t h e i r a s s i s t a n c e a n d c o o p e r a t i o n i n t h e p r e p a r a t i o n of t h i s r e p o r t . T h e s u p p o r t p r o v i d e d by G e n e r a l M a n a g e r s U Aung Khin, A R I ; U Hla Shwe, A d m i n i s t r a t i o n ; U Hla M y i n t 0 0 , P l a n n i n g a n d P r o j e c t s ; U T i n H l a i n g , E x t e n s i o n ; a n d Dr. M y i n t T h e i n , ARD is

g r a t e f u l l y acknowledged.
The a u t h o r is a l s o d e e p l y i n d e b t e d t o U Hla Than, Deputy General Manager, F o r e i g n P r o j e c t s Section, a n d a l l h i s s t a f f f o r t h e i r g e n e r o u s h e l p i n t h e p r e p a r a t i o n of t h i s r e p o r t .

H i s g r a t i t u d e is e x t e n d e d t o U N y i Nyi, D r . Tun Saing a n d U Ohn Kyaw, Deputy G e n e r a l Managers, who p r o v i d e d t h e s t a t i s t i c a l f i g u r e s a n d many u s e f u l d i s c u s s i o n s . The s u c c e s s f u l p r e p a r a t i o n of t h i s r e p o r t is, t o a g r e a t e x t e n t , d u e t o t h e c o l l a b o r a t i v e e f f o r t s o f D r . Hla T i n 0 0 ,

P r o f e s s o r of A g r i c u l t u r a l B o t a n y , I n s t i t u t e of A g r i c u l t u r e , and f o r t h i s t h e a u t h o r is g r a t e f u l . T h a n k s a r e a l s o d u e t o U T h e i n 0 0 a n d U Kyaw Min, who t y p e d t h e m a n u s c r i p t a n d were a l w a y s w i l l i n g t o p u t i n e x t r a time t o complete t h i s r e p o r t .

ix

L i s t of Abbreviations

ADB ARFSN AVRDC CIAT

CIMMYT
CIP DANIDA GTZ IARC IBPGR
ICRISAT IITA

IRRI
JICA OPEC USAID

AC AFPTC

Asian Development Bank Asian Rice Farming System Network Asian Vegetable Research Development Center I n t e r n a t i o n a l Center f o r T r o p i c a l A g r i c u l t u r e , C a l i , Colombia I n t e r n a t i o n a l Center f o r Research i n Maize and Wheat, Mexico I n t e r n a t i o n a l Center f o r P o t a t o e s , Lima, Peru Danish A i d Agency German Agency f o r Technical Cpoperation I n t e r n a t i o n a l A g r i c u l t u r a l Research Center I n t e r n a t i o n a l Board f o r P l a n t Genetic Resources, Rome, Italy I n t e r n a t i o n a l Crop Research I n s t i t u t e f o r t h e S e m i - A r i d Tropics, Hyderabad, I n d i a I n t e r n a t i o n a l I n s t i t u t e of T r o p i c a l A g r i c u l t u r e , Ibadan, Nigeria I n t e r n a t i o n a l Rice Research I n s t i t u t e , Los Baflos, the Philippines Japan I n t e r n a t i o n a l Co-operation Agency Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries United S t a t e s Agency f o r I n t e r n a t i o n a l Development

AMD ARD ARI CADTC ED FID

A g r i c u l t u r e Corporation A g r i c u l t u r e and Farm Produce Trade Corporation A g r i c u l t u r e Mechanization Department A p p l i e d Research Division A g r i c u l t u r e Research I n s t i t u t e C e n t r a l A g r i c u l t u r e Development Training Center Extension Division Food I n d u s t r i e s Corporation

X

GOB

IA

ID
MAB MOPP TIC

BSPP FYDP HY V NARS SHY P SHY V WTCPDP WTPPDP

-

Government of the Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma Institute of Agriculture Irrigation Department Myanma Agriculture Bank Maize and Oilseed Production Project Textile Industries Corporation

Burma Socialist Programme Party Four Year Development Plan High Yielding Variety National Agriculture Research System Special High Yield Production Program Special High Yielding Variety Whole Township Crop Production Development Program Whole Township Paddy Production Development Program

(1st December 1984)
Currency U n i t K 1.00 U . S . D o l l a r (US$) 1.00 K 1.00

C u r r e n c y , W e i g h t s and Measures

= Kyat (K) = 100 p y a s
= K 8.59 = US$0.116

Burma
viss
B a s k e t paddy n groundnut unshelled maize shelled wheat sorghum gram black and green " cowpea l a b l a b beans b u t t e r beans

Metric
1.65 k g 20 86 k g 11.34 k g 24.94 k g 32.65 k g 28.11 k g 31.29 k g 32.65 k g 31 -29 k g 31.29 k g

-

-

1 1 1 1
kilogram ikg) hectare (ha) Megaton ( M t )

-

metric t o n ( m t )

= 2.205 pounds ( l b s ) = 1.02 l o n g t o n s = 2.471 acres ( a c )
= 1,000,000 mt . . .

.’

.. . .

I

xiii

Contents

1

The Country 1.1 Natural setting 1.1.1 Rivers 1 . 1 . 2 The climate 1.2 Political setting 1 . 3 Population 1 . 4 Economy
The Agriculture Sector 2 . 1 Structure 2.2 Infrastructure 2 . 2 . 1 Agriculture Corporation (AC) 2.2.2 Irrigation Department (ID) 2.2.3 Agricultural Mechanization Department (AMD) Food Industries Corporation (FIC) 2.2.4 2.2.5 Textile Industries Corporation (TIC) 2.2.6 Department of Cooperatives 2.2.7 Agricultural and Farm Produce Trade Corporation (AFPTC) 2.3 Institutional support 2.4 Pricing 2 . 5 Past and present performance 2 . 5 . 1 Sector contribution 2.5.2 Production by commodity 2 . 5 . 3 Exports 2.5.4 Imports 2.6 Policy issues The National Agricultural Research System (NABS) 3 . 1 Institutional structure 3 . 1 . 1 The Agriculture Research Institute (ARI) 3.1.2 Applied Research Division (ARD) 3 . 1 . 3 Institute of Agriculture (IA) 3.2 Staffing in NABS 3.3 Multilateral and bilateral assistance projects with research components Impact of IARCs on NARS 4 . 1 Impact on some important crops in Burma 4.1.1 Rice 4.1.2 Wheat 4.1.3 Maize 4 . 1 . 4 Sorghum 4.1.5 Groundnut 4 . 1 . 6 Food legumes 4.2 Training 4 . 3 Relations between national research centers and CGIAR-supported centers and other organizations
9 12 12 12 16 16 17 17 17

2

18 18 20 24 24 28 29 29 30 33
35

3

35 42 45 48 52
55 55 55 56 61 65 68 70 72

4

76

xiv

5

Research Impact on A g r i c u l t u r a l P r o d u c t i o n 5.1 Important i n n o v a t i o n s 5 . 2 Adoption o f i n n o v a t i o n s C o n c l u s i o n s and S u g g e s t i o n s 6.1 A g r i c u l t u r e sector 6 . 2 The N a t i o n a l A g r i c u l t u r a l Research System 6 . 3 R e l a t i o n s w i t h t h e I n s t i t u t e of A g r i c u l t u r e 6.4 M u l t i l a t e r a l and b i l a t e r a l a s s i s t a n c e p r o j e c t s w i t h r e s e a r c h components 6 . 5 R e l a t i o n s h i p s between I A R C s and NARS

81 81 84 91 91 94

6

95 96
100 101 103

Appendix References

1

1

The C o u n t r y

1.1

Natural setting
The S o c i a l i s t R e p u b l i c o f t h e U n i o n o f B u r m a l i es i n

S o u t h e a s t Asia b e t w e e n l a t i t u d e s 100N and 28ON a n d l o n g i t u d e s 920E a n d 10lOE. The c o u n t r y i s r o u g h l y 582 miles a c r o s s from e a s t t o west a n d 1 , 2 7 5 miles f r o m n o r t h t o s o u t h . Burma i s t h e l a r g e s t c o u n t r y on t h e s o u t h e a s t Asian mainl a n d . F a c i n g t h e Bay o f Bengal and t h e Andaman Sea on t h e west a n d s o u t h it s h a r e s l a n d b o r d e r s w i t h T h a i l a n d , Laos, C h i n a , I n d i a and B a n g l a d e s h .
Burma i s r i m m e d o n t h e n o r t h , e a s t a n d w e s t by m o u n t a i n r a n g e s w i t h e l e v a t i o n s u p t o 4,570 meters (15,000 f t ) a b o v e sea l e v e l a l o n g t h e C h i n e s e b o r d e r and 2,400 meters (8,000 f t ) a l o n g t h e I n d i a n border.

The c o u n t r y h a s many v a r i e t i e s o f r i c h f o r e s t . World f a m o u s Burma t e a i s c u l t i v a t e d i n t h e d e c i d u o u s monsoon f o r e s t .

1.1.1

Rivers T h e f o u r c h i e f r i v e r s i n Burma a r e t h e I r r a w a d d y , t h e S i t t a n g , t h e C h i n d w i n a n d t h e Salween.

The 1,238 mile l o n g I r r a w a d d y R i v e r i s formed by t h e c o n f l u e n c e o f two rivers, N'mai Kha, a n d M a l i Kha, some 2 7 3 miles n o r t h o f M a n d a l a y . The r i v e r w h i c h i s n e a r l y o n e m i l e w i d e a t many p l a c e s is n a v i g a b l e from i t s mouth t o Bahmo. Before t h e r i v e r e n t e r s t h e Andaman Sea i t d i v i d e s i n t o e i g h t main b r a n c h e s w h i c h f o r m t h e s p r a w l i n g f e r t i l e d e l t a . The I r r a w a d d y i s t h e

The S i t t a n g River rises in t h e h i l l s s o u t h e a s t o f Mandalay and f l o w s t o t h e PeguYoma u n t i l i t e m p t i e s i n t o t h e G u l f o f M a r t a b a n , an e x t e n s i o n of t h e Andaman Sea. T h i s r i v e r is 186 miles long.

.
1.1.2

2

c o u n t r y ' s e c o n o m i c l i f e l i n e and m a j o r t r a n s p o r t a t i o n s y s t e m , conn e c t i n g Rangoon w i t h Mandalay in t h e c e n t r a l a r e a .

The C h i n d w i n River is t h e main t r i b u t a r y o f t h e I r r a w a d d y and r i s e s in t h e n o r t h w e s t e r n h i l l s . I t f l o w s t h r o u g h 480 miles o f n a v i g a b l e r e a c h e s u n t i l it f l o w s i n t o t h e I r r a w a d d y n e a r Pakokku. T h i s r i v e r is 6 9 1 miles l o n g .

The S a l w e e n River r a c e s t h r o u g h g o r g e s c u t d e e p i n t o t h e Shan P l a t e a u . I t i s l o c a l l y n a v i g a b l e b u t is t o o s w i f t t o p e r m i t n a v i g a t i o n f o r any e x t e n d e d d i s t a n c e . I t f l o w s i n t o t h e G u l f o f Martaban
The c l i m a t e

Most of Burma l i e s w i t h i n t h e t r o p i c s , t h e T r o p i c of C a n c e r p a s s i n g t h r o u g h t h e c o u n t r y a b o u t 150 miles n o r t h o f Mandalay. There a r e t h r e e s e a s o n s : t h e monsoon, winter and summer.
The monsoon is from mid-May t o t h e e n d o f O c t o b e r . During t h i s p e r i o d t h e s o u t h w e s t monsoon b r i n g s r a i n from t h e Bay o f Bengal. The c o a s t a l r e g i o n s receive a b o u t 500 c m of rain, t h e I r r a w a d d y d e l t a a b o u t 250 cm, and t h e h i l l y r e g i o n s a b o u t 200 cm. C e n t r a l Burma, w h i c h l i e s w i t h i n t h e r a i n shadow o f t h e Arakan

Yoma, receives a b o u t 5 0 t o 7 5 c m of rain.
The c o l d s e a s o n i s from e a r l y November t o l a t e F e b r u a r y . T e m p e r a t u r e s i n t h e s o u t h o f t h e c o u n t r y may d r o p to'15.5OC and i n o t h e r a r e a s t h e c o l d i s more i n t e n s e .

The h o t s e a s o n o r t h e summer comesbefore t h e r a i n s . The t e m p e r a t u r e s i n t h e south are around 30°Cbutthose i n t h e c e n t r a l p l a i n may be a s h i g h a s 33'.
1.2

Political setting

The S o c i a l i s t R e p u b l i c of t h e Union of Burma came i n t o b e i n g on J a n u a r y 3, 1974, a f t e r t h e new s o c i a l i s t c o n s t i t u t i o n had b e e n p a s s e d by o v e r 90 p e r c e n t of t h e e l e c t o r a t e i n a r e f e r e n d u m . I t

i s a s i n g l e p a r t y s y s t e m . Under t h e p r o v i s i o n s of t h e c o n s t i t u t i o n , t h e nationwide e l e c t i o n s f o r Pyithu Hluttaw (Parliament), People's C o u n c i l s f o r S t a t e / D i v i s i o n , Township and V i l l a g e t r a c t l e v e l s a r e h e l d e v e r y 4 y e a r s . T h e P y i t h u H l u t t a w i n c l u d e s 475 members e l e c t e d from 314 t o w n s h i p s . C a n d i d a t e s f o r t h e s e e l e c t i o n s a r e a p p r o v e d by t h e Burma S o c i a l i s t Programme P a r t y (BSPP), t h e o n l y p o l i t i c a l p a r t y .
The P y i t h u H l u t t a w i s t h e I t meets t w i c e a y e a r i n March Hluttaw is not i n session, t h e C o u n c i l of S t a t e . The C o u n c i l h i g h e s t o r g a n o f t h e S t a t e Power. a n d O c t o b e r . When t h e P y i t h u

S t a t e Power i s d e l e g a t e d t o t h e of S t a t e i s composed of 2 9 members. F o u r t e e n r e p r e s e n t t h e 1 4 S t a t e a n d D i v i s i o n a l t e r r i t o r i a l u n i t s , w h i l e another 14 represent t h e Pyithu Hluttaw a s a whole. The P r i m e M i n i s t e r i s t h e 2 9 t h member.
The C o u n c i l o f J u s t i c e i s t h e h i g h e s t j u d i c i a l organ o f t h e

S t a t e a n d t h e C o u n c i l of P e o p l e ' s A t t o r n e y s p r o t e c t s a n d safeg u a r d s t h e S o c i a l i s t S y s t e m a s well a s t h e r i g h t s a n d p r i v i l e g e s of t h e w o r k i n g people. Under t h e C o u n c i l of S t a t e t h e r e a r e t h e C o u n c i l of M i n i s t e r s ( C a b i n e t ) and t h e C o u n c i l of P e o p l e ' s I n s p e c t o r s t o i m p l e m e n t t h e S t a t e p o l i c i e s . A l l members o f t h e e x e c u t i v e b r a n c h a r e e l e c t e d from among t h e members of P y i t h u Hluttaw.
T h e S o c i a l i s t R e p u b l i c of t h e Union of Burma comprises s e v e n

s t a t e s a n d s e v e n d i v i s i o n s , namely:

t h e Kachin S t a t e , t h e Chin

4

S t a t e , t h e Kaya S t a t e , t h e Karen S t a t e , t h e Mon S t a t e , t h e Rakhine, and t h e Shan S t a t e . The seven d i v i s i o n s a r e t h e Rangoon Division, Mandalay Division, t h e Pegu Division, t h e Tenasserim Division, t h e Irrawaddy Division, t h e Sagaing Division and t h e Magwe Division. These d i v i s i o n s a r e comprised of 314 townships. The a d m i n i s t r a t i v e c o n t r o l i s e x e r c i s e d from t h e National Headquarters downward through a s y s t e m of s u b o r d i n a t e e x e c u t i v e bodies. People's Councils a t t h e l e v e l s of S t a t e / D i v i s i o n , Township and V i l l a g e t r a c t have government functions. A nationw i d e p a r t y a p p a r a t u s , through a system of p a r t y c e l l s and committees, e x e r c i s e s p o l i c y c o n t r o l over t h e a c t i v i t i e s of P e o p l e ' s Councils.
1.3

Population

Burma had a population of 35.6 m i l l i o n i n 1984, w i t h an annual growth r a t e of 2.01 percent. The male population was 17.7 m i l l i o n and t h e female population was 17.98 m i l l i o n . I n analyzing growth by age g r o u p s , it was e s t i m a t e d t h a t o u t of t h e t o t a l population, 13.36 m i l l i o n were u n d e r 15 y e a r s o l d , 19.98 m i l l i o n were i n t h e w o r k i n g age g r o u p of 15 t o 59 y e a r s , a n d 2.34 m i l l i o n were i n t h e age group 60 y e a r s and more.
The c r u d e b i r t h r a t e was 2 8 . 3 per thousand while t h e crude

death r a t e was 11.2 p e r thousand.
1.4

Economy

Burma i s an a g r i c u l t u r a l economy i n t h e p r o c e s s o f moderni z a t i o n and a p p r o p r i a t e i n d u s t r i a l i z a t i o n . Rice and t i m b e r a r e t h e main products b u t o t h e r c e r e a l c r o p s , o i l s e e d c r o p s , i n d u s t r i a l crops, m i n e r a l s and petroleum a r e growing i n importance. Improved performance of t h e economy d u r i n g 1983-84 has been made p o s s i b l e by s t e a d y growth In t h e main productive s e c t o r s ,

5

n a m e l y a g r i c u l t u r e , f o r e s t r y a n d p r o c e s s i n g and m a n u f a c t u r i n g . A c c o r d i n g t o t h e p r o v i s i o n a l d a t a , t h e v a l u e of o u t p u t of t h e a g r i c u l t u r e sector i n 1983-84 i n c r e a s e d by 5.6 p e r c e n t . T h i s remarkable growth r a t e was t h e r e s u l t of i n c r e a s e i n o u t p u t of p r i n c i p a l c r o p s . The i n c r e a s e i n a g r i c u l t u r a l o u t p u t is a t t r i b u t a b l e t o t h e i n t r o d u c t i o n of h i g h y i e l d v a r i e t y (HYV) p r o g r a m s of c r o p s , i m p r o v e d c u l t u r a l methods, and w h o l e - t o w n s h i p crop p r o d u c t i o n programs f o r i m p o r t a n t selected crops. The i m p a c t of s u c h m e a s u r e s is r e s p o n s i b l e f o r i n c r e a s e s i n y i e l d p e r acre of many i m p o r t a n t c r o p s . A c c o r d i n g t o t h e p r o v i s i o n a l d a t a , t h e v a l u e of n e t o u t p u t i n t h e f o r e s t r y sector i n c r e a s e d by 5.2 p e r c e n t i n 1983-84. Modern m e t h o d s of l o g t r a n s p o r t a t i o n and e x t r a c t i o n c o u p l e d w i t h b u i l d i n g of a l l - w e a t h e r a c c e s s i b l e roads w h i c h m i n i m i z e d t h e s t o c k i n c o u r s e of e x t r a c t i o n c o n t r i b u t e d t o t h e i n c r e a s e i n o u t p u t of t e a k and hardwood d u r i n g t h i s p e r i o d .
The p r o c e s s i n g a n d m a n u f a c t u r i n g sector showed p e r c e p t i b l e increase i n production i n l i n e with t h e increased production i n a g r i c u l t u r e . The a d e q u a t e s u p p l y o f raw m a t e r i a l s in t h e a g r i c u l t u r e s e c t o r , r e g u l a r s u p p l y of f o r e i g n raw m a t e r i a l and s p a r e p a r t s , m a i n l y c o n t r i b u t e d t o t h e i n c r e a s e i n t h e v a l u e of n e t o u t p u t of t h e p r o c e s s i n g and m a n u f a c t u r i n g sector by 9 percent i n 1981-82. U t i l i z a t i o n of p r o d u c t i o n c a p a c i t y i n t h i s sector was
72.91 p e r c e n t i n 1980-81; 73.60 p e r c e n t i n 1981-82; i n 1982-83 and 73.00 p e r c e n t i n 1983-84.
71.00 p e r c e n t

Out of o v e r 5.8 m i l l i o n s t u d e n t s , 0.17 m i l l i o n were s t u d y i n g higher education. Over 33,000 academic and p r o f e s s i o n a l d e g r e e s were awarded i n 1983-84. D u r i n g 1982-83, t h e e x p o r t v a l u e of K 3,036.3 m i l l i o n was r e a l i z e d . E x p o r t by t y p e of commodity i s p r e s e n t e d i n Table 1.1.

6

The a l l o c a t i o n of c a p i t a l and c u r r e n t e x p e n d i t u r e f o r t h e S t a t e A d m i n i s t r a t i v e Organizations9 t h e S t a t e Economic E n t e r p r i s e s and t h e Town and C i t y Development Committees f o r 1984-85 I s shown by s e c t o r i n T a b l e 1.2.

Table 1.1

Exports by Type of Commodity, 1982-83
~

Type of Commodity A g r i c u l t u r a l Products Animal and Marine Products F o r e s t Products Minerals and G e m s Others Re-export Total

Kyats i n M i l l i o n 1,566.8
152.1

813.6 398.5 72.3 33.0
~~~

39036.3

Table 1.2

Allocation of Capital and Current Expenditure by Sector for 1984-85

_ I _ -

-----c----L__I_c_UcI-

-.

Agriculture 1,130 Livestock and Fishery 250 Forestry 240 Mining 240 Processing and Manufacturing 2,480 Power 1,840 Construction 320 Transportation and Communications 840 Trade 350 Social Services 550 Financial Institutions 20 Administrative Organizations 350 Town and City Development Committees 130 Reserve Fund
I

13.1 3.2 3.1 3.1 31.6 13.3 4.1 10.7 4.5

1,630 640 1,070 1,450 9,010 410 1,520 1,480 6,500 1,710 1,260
2 ,800

5.5 2.2

3.6
4.9 30.3 1.4 5.1
5.0

21.8 5.7 4.2 9.4

7.0
0.2 4.5 1.6
I

190 100 29,770

0.6
0.3

Total

8,740

100.0

100.0

8

9

2

The A g r i c u l t u r e S e c t o r

The p r o s p e c t s of Burma's economy h i n g e on t h e performance of t h e a g r i c u l t u r e s e c t o r . The b u l k of t h e r u r a l population l i v e s near t h e s u b s i s t e n c e l e v e l and improved s m a l l farm p r o d u c t i v i t y i s a p r e r e q u i s i t e f o r meeting t h e i r b a s i c needs. About 85 p e r c e n t of t h e population l i v e s i n r u r a l a r e a s and two-thirds of employment is i n a g r i c u l t u r e . Burma i s r i c h l y endowed w i t h n a t u r a l resources. I t has a s u b s t a n t i a l a r e a of a r a b l e land which could be brought u n d e r c u l t i v a t i o n and s i g n i f i c a n t water resources. O f f i c i a l d a t a i n d i c a t e s 21 m i l l i o n a c r e s of c u l t i v a b l e wasteland. O f t h e t o t a l land a r e a of 261,228 square miles, h a l f i s i n f o r e s t and about 72,000 square miles i s considered s u i t a b l e f o r c u l t i v a t i o n . However, only 45 p e r c e n t of t h i s a r e a i s u n d e r c u l t i v a t i o n , d u e t o l i m i t e d a v a i l a b i l i t y of water. I n 1983-84, 34,000 a c r e s of c u l t i v a b l e land was brought under c u l t i v a t i o n . The u t i l i z a t i o n o f l a n d i s shown i n T a b l e 2.1.

Table 2.1

Land U t i l i z a t i o n

Particulars
-

Acres ( 0 0 0 )
19,957 4,942 21,087 24,578 54,849 41,773

_ _

Net Sown Area Fallow Area C u l t i v a b l e Wasteland Reserved F o r e s t O t h e r F o r e s t Area O t h e r Lands Total

10

Land is owned b y t h e S t a t e a n d o n l y t h e a c t u a l t i l l e r s a r e g i v e n t h e r i g h t t o t i l l t h e l a n d . T h u s t h e number o f s m a l l l a n d h o l d e r s has increased s u b s t a n t i a l l y w h i l e the f a r m e r s w i t h l a r g e h o l d i n g s h a s d e c l i n e d . The l a n d a r e a o c c u p i e d by p e a s a n t f a m i l i e s i n 1983-84 is shown i n T a b l e 2.2.

Table 2 . 2

P o s i t i o n o f P e a s a n t F a m i l i e s and Land O c c u p i e d

5 t o 10 Acres

10 t o 20 Acres 20 t o 50 Acres 50 t o 100 Acres Over 100 Acres

29.2 12.4 0.5 1.9 0.02
. . -

From t h e a b o v e t a b l e i t c a n b e s e e n t h a t h o l d i n g s o f 10 a c r e s o r l e s s t a k e u p 55 percent o f t h e t o t a l a c r e a g e and a r e h e l d by 85 percent of t h e p o p u l a t i o n . T h e r e m a i n i n g 45 percent o f l a n d i n f a r m s o f 10 a c r e s o r m o r e a r e h e l d b y 12 p e r c e n t o f t h e f a r m e r s . Less t h a n 3 p e r c e n t o f t h e f a r m e r s h a v e h o l d i n g s o f 20 a c r e s o r more. Burma h a s v a s t i r r i g a t i o n p o t e n t i a l b u t i r r i g a t e d a r e a c o m p r i s e s o n l y a b o u t 1 3 percent o f t h e t o t a l a r e a s o w n t o a g r i c u l t u r a l c r o p s . I t h a s been r e c o g n i z e d t h a t t h e l a c k o f f l o o d c o n t r o l , d r a i n a g e and d e v e l o p m e n t o f i r r i g a t i o n is o n e o f t h e m a j o r f a c t o r s c o n t r i b u t i n g t o low y i e l d s and t h e i n a b i l i t y t o . p r o d u c e c r o p s d u r i n g t h e d r y s e a s o n . A t t e m p t s h a v e been made t o c o r r e c t these c o n d i t i o n s . The main s o u r c e s o f i r r i g a t i o n w a t e r . are river d i v e r s i o n schemes ( s e r v i n g a t o t a l i r r i g a b l e a r e a o f a t

11

l e a s t 1.6 m i l l i o n a c r e s ) , dams a n d r e s e r v o i r s ( s e r v i n g a r o u n d
190,000 acres) a n d pump schemes ( s e r v i n g a b o u t 380,000 acres) a n d
I

o t h e r s a b o u t 430,000 acres. A t p r e s e n t o n l y 2.6 m i l l i o n a c r e s i s u n d e r i r r i g a t i o n . D u r i n g t h e l a s t few y e a r s , o p e r a t i o n s of t h e I r r i g a t i o n Department ( I D ) have expanded r a p i d l y . Authorized

s t a f f p o s i t i o n s i n c r e a s e d from 6,800 i n 1973 t o a b o u t 20,000 i n 1982, a n d t h e number of p r o j e c t s u n d e r i m p l e m e n t a t i o n i n c r e a s e d from 8 t o 17. However, i t was found t h a t o n l y 12.5 p e r c e n t of t h e i r r i g a t e d a r e a i s d o u b l e cropped.
A t t e m p t s t o p r o v i d e farm i n p u t s s u c h a s f e r t i l i z e r s , a n d pesticides have been q u i t e successfu1.

Rice i s t h e s t a p l e f o o d o f t h e p e o p l e a n d i s a n i m p o r t a n t f o r e i g n e x c h a n g e e a r n e r . The Government i s g i v i n g h i g h e s t p r i o r i t y f o r r i c e l a n d d e v e l o p m e n t a n d i m p r o v e m e n t of i t s production.
Rice i s p r e s e n t l y grown i n a b o u t 12.06 m i l l i o n acres. T h e r e had b e e n a g r a d u a l decrease i n r i c e acreage from 12.6 m i l l i o n a c r e s i n 1965 t o 12.0 m i l l i o n acres i n 1973. From 1974 o n w a r d s t h e a r e a i n c r e a s e d s u b s t a n t i a l l y a s shown i n F i g u r e 2.1.

D u r i n g t h e 10-year p e r i o d 1963-73, a n n u a l p r o d u c t i o n f l u c t u a t e d . S i n c e t h e n p r o d u c t i o n increased s u b s t a n t i a l l y from 7.4 M t i n 1973 t o 14.4 M t i n 1982-83.

P r i o r t o 1974 r i c e y i e l d s were low. Y i e l d s p e r a c r e f l u c t u a t e d b e t w e e n 29 a n d 32 baskets. After 1974, a g r a d u a l y i e l d i n c r e a s e was o b t a i n e d a n d i n t h e y e a r 1983, a v e r a g e y i e l d p e r a c r e reached 61 b a s k e t s .
T o t a l domestic c o n s u m p t i o n of paddy g r a d u a l l y i n c r e a s e d from 5.5 M t i n 1978-79 t o 6.1 M t i n 1982-83. The e x p o r t a b l e s u r p l u s i n 1978-79 was 1.6 M t a n d i n t h e year 1982-83 i t was a b o u t 0.59 Mt

.

12

The a g r i c u l t u r e s e c t o r a c c o u n t s f o r 38 p e r c e n t o f g r o s s domestic p r o d u c t a n d e m p l o y s 6 4 p e r c e n t of t h e c o u n t r y ' s l a b o r force. I n 1982-83, t h e s e c t o r a c c o u n t e d f o r 5 2 p e r c e n t of t h e

\

f o r e i g n exchange e a r n i n g s .
2.1

Structure

O v e r a l l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r managing and i m p l e m e n t i n g a g r i c u l t u r a l a c t i v i t i e s rests w i t h t h e M i n i s t r y o f A g r i c u l t u r e a n d F o r e s t s , w h i c h c o n s i s t s of s e v e n D e p a r t m e n t s and t h r e e C o r p o r a t i o n s a s shown i n T a b l e 2 . 3 . The A g r i c u l t u r e C o r p o r a t i o n , u n d e r i t s Managing Director, i s r e s p o n s i b l e f o r a l l a s p e c t s of crop research, d e v e l o p m e n t a n d p r o d u c t i o n . F o r e s t r y a c t i v i t i e s f a l l under separate departments o r corporations. The o r g a n i z a t i o n a l s t r u c t u r e o f t h e A g r i c u l t u r e C o r p o r a t i o n i s d e p i c t e d i n T a b l e 2.4.
2.2

Infrastructure

A g r i c u l t u r a l s u p p o r t services a r e o r g a n i z e d t h r o u g h t h e r e l e v a n t d e p a r t m e n t s and c o r p o r a t i o n s concerned w i t h t h e developm e n t a n d e s t a b l i s h m e n t of a g r i c u l t u r a l a n d r u r a l d e v e l o p m e n t projects. Agriculture Corporation (AC) The A g r i c u l t u r e C o r p o r a t i o n o f t h e M i n i s t r y of A g r i c u l t u r e and F o r e s t s is r e s p o n s i b l e f o r a g r i c u l t u r a l e x t e n s i o n and research, t h e c o o r d i n a t i o n o f f e r t i l i z e r a n d a g r i c u l t u r a l chemical d i s t r i b u t i o n , a n d seed m u l t i p l i c a t i o n a n d d i s t r i b u t i o n . W i t h i n t h e AC, t h e r e a r e two r e s e a r c h d i v i s i o n s : t h e A p p l i e d Research D i v i s i o n ( A R D ) a t Gyogon (Rangoon) a n d t h e A g r i c u l t u r a l Research I n s t i t u t e ( A R I ) a t Yezin. The E x t e n s i o n D i v i s i o n i s a l s o l o c a t e d a t Rangoon. ARD a d m i n i s t e r s 20 seed farms a n d 2 0 c e n t r a l farms s c a t t e r e d t h r o u g h o u t t h e c o u n t r y . I t s o b j e c t i v e s a r e t o m u l t i p l y a n d p r o d u c e h i g h q u a l i t y seeds. The c e n t r a l
2.2.1

Figure.2.1

Paddy Sown Area

(Million Hectares)

.

14

T a b l e 2.3

Organization o f the Ministry o f Agriculture and Forests

*

Deputy Minister

Deputy Minister
( Forestry 1

(Agriculture)

Planning and S t a t i s t i c s Department

Agriculture Corporation

Forest Department

1

Agricultural Mechanization Department

S a l t Industries Corporation

I r r i g a t i o n Department

Timber Corporation

Survey Department

,

Settlement and Land Records

Department

Working People's Settlement Department

15

Table 2 . 4

O r g a n i z a t i o n of t h e A g r i c u l t u r e C o r p o r a t i o n ( A G )

Managing D i r e c t o r

A g r i c u l t u r a l Research I n s t i t u t e
A p p l i e d Research

G.M. G.M.
G.M.

Extension Land Use P l a n t a t i o n Crops Accounts Administration Export Planning and P r o j e c t s Procurement and D i s t r i b u t i o n

Dy. G . M .
G.M. G.M.

G.M.
Dy. G . M .
G.M. G.M.

16

farms a r e r e s p o n s i b l e f o r p l a n t b r e e d i n g , c r o p s e l e c t i o n , y i e l d t e s t i n g , c u l t u r a l and f e r t i l i z e r e x p e r i m e n t s and e x t e n s i o n manager t r a i n i n g .
The research a c t i v i t i e s o f A R I a r e s i m i l a r t o t h o s e of ARD. Germplasm c o l l e c t i o n a n d e v a l u a t i o n , s e l e c t i o n a n d v a r i e t a l

improvement, crop c u l t u r e t e c h n i q u e s , seed p r o d u c t i o n , c r o p r e s p o n s e t o f e r t i l i z e r s , c o n t r o l of c r o p p e s t s a n d diseases, a n d v a r i o u s other m i s c e l l a n e o u s s t u d i e s and a c t i v i t i e s a r e carried o u t by A R I .
The e x t e n s i o n d e p a r t m e n t h a s r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r i m p l e m e n t i n g

a g r i c u l t u r a l plans, p r o c u r i n g and d i s t r i b u t i n g a g r i c u l t u r a l s u p p l i e s a n d d i s s e m i n a t i n g research i n f o r m a t i o n t o farmers. The Whole T o w n s h i p P r o g r a m s a r e now t h e m a i n v e h i c l e f o r e x t e n s i o n activities.
2.2.2

I r r i g a t i o n Department ( I D ) The p r i m e f u n c t i o n of t h e I r r i g a t i o n D e p a r t m e n t is t o p l a n t d e s i g n a n d i m p l e m e n t c o o r d i n a t e d water r e s o u r c e s d e v e l o p m e n t , i n c l u d i n g i r r i g a t i o n , d r a i n a g e and f l o o d c o n t r o l .

The I D h a s c o n s i d e r a b l e experience i n e x e c u t i n g major i n t e r n a t i o n a l l y f u n d e d p r o j e c t s , i n c l u d i n g t h e Sedawgyi Dam and t h e N g a l a i k Dam, b o t h f i n a n c e d by t h e A s i a n D e v e l o p m e n t Bank. The K i n d a Dam P r o j e c t a n d t h e Lower Burma Paddy Land D e v e l o p m e n t P r o j e c t s a r e a s s i s t e d by t h e World Bank.

Between 1962 a n d 1980, t h e I D completed e i g h t m a j o r p r o j e c t s w i t h a t o t a l i r r i g a b l e a r e a of 137,000 ha. The d e p a r t m e n t a l s o completed f o u r m a j o r f l o o d p r o t e c t i o n p r o j e c t s p r o v i d i n g prot e c t i o n f o r over 50,000 ha.
2 . 2 . 3
A g r i c u l t u r a l M e c h a n i z a t i o n Department (AMD) The AMD is charged w i t h t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y of a s s i s t i n g t h e farmers w i t h t i m e l y l a n d p r e p a r a t i o n . They p r o v i d e t r a c t o r s ,

17

s p r a y e r s , pumps, power t i l l e r s , t h r e s h e r s and o t h e r farm implements f o r s a l e and h i r e t o f a r m e r s and v i l l a g e cooperatives. T h i s department does land p r e p a r a t i o n on about 700,000 a c r e s annually.
The AMD i s not only charged w i t h t h e above r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s , b u t t h e y a l s o have t o c a r r y o u t production of innovative e q u i p m e n t l i k e t h e manual r i c e t r a n s p l a n t e r , and maintenance and

r e p a i r of department-owned and c o o p e r a t i v e l y owned a g r i c u l t u r a l machinery. Another f u n c t i o n i s t h e t r a i n i n g of o p e r a t o r and repair technicians.
2.2.4

Food I n d u s t r i e s Corporation ( F I C ) FIC under t h e M i n i s t r y of I n d u s t r y No. 1 i s r e s p o n s i b l e through i t s Tobacco Division and Sugarcane Division f o r t h e procurement, processing and marketing of V i r g i n i a tobacco and sugarcane. The tobacco d i v i s i o n a l s o provides c u l t u r a l advice, i n i t i a l m u l t i p l i c a t i o n of improved seed and research. I t has e s t a b l i s h e d a number of s t a t e farms and experimental s t a t i o n s s i t u a t e d i n M i d d l e and Upper Burma.
2.2.5

T e x t i l e I n d u s t r i e s Corporation ( T I C ) T I C i s r e s p o n s i b l e f o r t h e purchase of j u t e and long s t a p l e c o t t o n d i r e c t l y from t h e f a r m e r s and subsequent processing, s t o r a g e and t r a n s p o r t a t i o n . I n t h e c a s e of c o t t o n , t h e seeds a r e s t o r e d and d i s t r i b u t e d back t o t h e farmers. T h e above a c t i v i t i e s a r e c a r r i e d o u t by t h e Cotton T e x t i l e Division and t h e J u t e Production Division.

Department of Cooperatives There a r e many c o o p e r a t i v e organizations. I n each township t h e r e i s a township c o o p e r a t i v e s o c i e t y t o w h i c h varying numbers of o t h e r c o o p e r a t i v e s a r e a f f i l i a t e d . One o f t h e major c o o p e r a t i v e a c t i v i t i e s i n every township i s crop procurement and d i s t r i b u t i o n . Crops a r e o f t e n produced on a forward s a l e s b a s i s . A c o o p e r a t i v e aims t o buy a s p e c i f i c quota of v a r i o u s crops. The
2.2.6

18

farmer i s p a i d up t o 70 p e r c e n t o f c r o p v a l u e i n a d v a n c e . A second major f u n c t i o n o f c o o p e r a t i v e s i s t h e d i s t r i b u t i o n of v a r i o u s r a t i o n e d g o o d s , on a q u o t a b a s i s , w h i c h a r e s o l d t h r o u g h t h e v i l l a g e t r a c t and t o w n s h i p c o n s u m e r c o o p e r a t i v e s . A t t h e v i l l a g e level t h e village t r a c t c o o p e r a t i v e undertakes t h e d i s t r i b u t i o n of f e r t i l i z e r s . A cooperative advances f e r t i l i z e r s t o f a r m e r s , who t h e n pay a t h a r v e s t . A c o o p e r a t i v e b o r r o w s f r o m t h e Myanma A g r i c u l t u r a l Bank t o f i n a n c e f e r t i l i z e r p u r c h a s e r and f a r m e r s pay a f i n a n c i n g c h a r g e i n a d d i t i o n t o t h e n o r m a l t r a n s p o r t and h a n d l i n g c h a r g e s .
2.2.7

A g r i c u l t u r a l and Farm P r o d u c e T r a d e C o r p o r a t i o n (AFPTC) AFPTC is t h e main agency r e s p o n s i b l e f o r paddy p r o c u r e m e n t on a n a t i o n a l b a s i s . I t i s a l s o r e s p o n s i b l e f o r t h e Government's b u t t e r bean and mung bean p r o c u r e m e n t p o l i c i e s . It a l s o o p e r a t e s a n a d v a n c e scheme f o r some non-paddy c r o p s s u c h a s m a i z e and o i l seed c a k e . I n s t i t u t i o n a l support

2.3

Under t h e M i n i s t r y o f E d u c a t i o n r there a r e two d e p a r t m e n t s connected w i t h a g r i c u l t u r a l t r a i n i n g : t h e Higher Education D e p a r t m e n t and t h e T e c h n i c a l , A g r i c u l t u r a l and V o c a t i o n a l Educa-

t i o n Department. The I n s t i t u t e o f A g r i c u l t u r e , w h i c h i s t h e s o l e i n s t i t u t i o n giving t r a i n i n g i n Agriculture Science a t u n i v e r s i t y level f a l l s u n d e r t h e H i g h e r E d u c a t i o n D e p a r t m e n t . I t a c c e p t s a b o u t 300 s u c c e s s f u l c a n d i d a t e s o f t h e B a s i c E d u c a t i o n High S c h o o l Examinat i o n e a c h y e a r , f o r a 5 - y e a r c o u r s e l e a d i n g t o t h e degree o f B a c h e l o r o f A g r i c u l t u r e (BAg). A t p r e s e n t , p o s t g r a d u a t e c o u r s e s a r e a l s o o f f e r e d i n five subjects.
The T e c h n i c a l r A g r i c u l t u r a l and V o c a t i o n a l E d u c a t i o n D e p a r t -

m e n t is r e s p o n s i b l e f o r t h e r u n n i n g o f A g r i c u l t u r a l High S c h o o l s and Diploma l e v e l t e a c h i n g a t t h e S t a t e I n s t i t u t e o f A g r i c u l t u r e .

19

The A g r i c u l t u r a l High S c h o o l s a c c e p t s t u d e n t s who h a v e p a s s e d t h e i r B a s i c E d u c a t i o n M i d d l e S c h o o l E x a m i n a t i o n f o r a 2y e a r c o u r s e i n a g r i c u l t u r e t r a i n i n g . There a r e n i n e s u c h s c h o o l s w i t h a t o t a l s t u d e n t body o f 1,550.
The S t a t e I n s t i t u t e o f A g r i c u l t u r e a c c e p t s t h e successful

c a n d i d a t e s of t h e B a s i c E d u c a t i o n High S c h o o l E x a m i n a t i o n , f o r a 3 - y e a r c o u r s e l e a d i n g t o a Diploma i n A g r i c u l t u r e . There a r e s i x s u c h i n s t i t u t e s w i t h a t o t a l e n r o l l m e n t o f a b o u t 1,150. A g r i c u l t u r e t e c h n i c i a n s a t all t h r e e l e v e l s p e r y e a r t o t a l a b o u t 1,400. The m a j o r i t y o f the BAg a n d Diploma g r a d u a t e s a r e a b s o r b e d by t h e AC.

L

T L The CADTC h o l d s i t s p o s i t i o n a s o n e o f t h e e x e c u t i n g d i v i s i o n s w i t h i n t h e AC, h a v i n g i t s a d v i s o r y b o a r d w i t h t h e T r a i n i n g I m p l e m e n t a t i o n Committee. The Managing Director i s c h a i r m a n , t h e P r o j e c t Manager o f t h e CADTC i s s e c r e t a r y and t h e D i v i s i o n Managers o f t h e AC a r e c o m m i t t e e members. The CADTC h a s a T r a i n i n g S e c t i o n r e s p o n s i b l e f o r e x e c u t i o n o f t r a i n i n g and i m p r o v e m e n t o f t e a c h i n g m a t e r i a l s , a F i e l d S e c t i o n f o r c o n t r o l and o p e r a t i o n o f t h e d e m o n s t r a t i o n f a r m , a P u b l i c a t i o n S e c t i o n f o r c o m p i l a t i o n and p r i n t i n g o f t r a i n i n g m a t e r i a l s ? an A u d i o - v i s u a l S e c t i o n f o r o p e r a t i o n and m a i n t e n a n c e o f t r a i n i n g a i d s and a P r o j e c t Manager's Office f o r t r a i n i n g p l a n n i n g , a d m i n i s t r a t i o n and management o f t h e CADTC.
The y e a r l y t r a i n i n g p r o g r a m s a r e p l a n n e d by t h e P r o j e c t Manager's Office o f t h e CADTC and a r e a p p r o v e d b y t h e T r a i n i n g I m p l e m e n t a t i o n Committee. The CADTC p r o v i d e s t h e f o l l o w i n g t r a i n i n g a s t h e primary t r a i n i n g programs f o r t h e e x t e n s i o n

a1 ;

staff

.

20

PrecSeruice,Traininn. T h i s t r a i n i n g p r o v i d e s f o r new g r a d u a t e s from t h e I n s t i t u t e o f Agriculture, A g r i c u l t u r a l

-

I n s t i t u t e s and A g r i c u l t u r a l High S c h o o l s , f o r a p e r i o d o f 2 months, t o c u l t i v a t e t h e r e s p o n s i - b i l i t y o f t h e e x t e n s i o n s t a f f and t h e i d e o l o g y o f a g r i c u l t u r a l e x t e n s i o n a c t i v i t i e s . The c u r r i c u l u m i s b a s e d m a i n l y upon t h e o r e t i c a l e d u c a t i o n .
T h i s t r a i n i n g s e r v e s t o improve t e c h n i c a l s k i l l o f e x t e n s i o n s t a f f from s t a t e , d i v i s i o n , t o w n s h i p , v i l l a g e t r a c t and v i l l a g e levels. The t r a i n i n g p e r i o d c o v e r s 1 t o 2 weeks. The c u r r i c u l u m a p p l i e s t o any v a r i e d l e v e l o f t r a i n e e s and p r o v i d e s m a i n l y t h e o r e t i c a l and l a b o r a t o r y

.- - -

exercise t r a i n i n g .
T h i s t r a i n i n g program c o n s i s t s o f f o u r c o u r s e s f o r e x t e n s i o n s t a f f and s p e c i a l i s t s i n every f i e l d , s u c h as S u b j e c t M a t t e r S p e c i a l i s t C o u r s e (S.M.S.), Specialist

,-

-

C o m p r e h e n s i v e C o u r s e , G e n e r a l A g r i c u l t u r e and E x t e n s i o n C o u r s e and P l a n n i n g and A n a l y s i s Course. The t r a i n i n g p e r i o d i s 3 t o 6
months

.

2 . 4

Pricing

The m a r k e t i n g and p r i c i n g o f a g r i c u l t u r a l p r o d u c t s is carried o u t t h r o u g h b o t h s t a t e and p r i v a t e s y s t e m s . The

g o v e r n m e n t exercises c o n s i d e r a b l e i n f l u e n c e o v e r f a r m e r s ' i n c e n t i v e s t h r o u g h i t s c o m p u l s o r y p r o c u r e m e n t monopoly p u r c h a s e s y s t e m w h i c h o p e r a t e s f o r paddy, j u t e , c o t t o n , and t o some extent s u g a r c a n e , p u l s e s , t o b a c c o and maize. F o r m o s t o f t h e s e c r o p s i n c l u d i n g paddy, c o m p u l s o r y d e l i v e r y q u o t a s , e n f o r c e d by l o c a l a u t h o r i t i e s , a r e imposed a t f i x e d prices. Paddy i s d i v i d e d by q u a l i t y i n t o s i x g r o u p s , n a m e l y N g a s e i n , Meedon, Emata, Mgakwe, Kauknyin and S p e c i a l Emata. The h i g h e s t q u a l i t y , Ngakwe, h a s a 20 p e r c e n t h i g h e r p r i c e t h a n N g a s e i n .

T a b l e 2.5

Purchase Prices o f N g a s e i n Paddy by Grade, 1962-63 t o 1983-84 ( k y a t s p e r 100 b a s k e t s )
--

_ _ _ c

Grade

1962/63

1967/68 1966/67

1974/75 1973/?4
to

1977/78

1980/81

to
1965/66

to 197 2/73

to
1979/80

to
1983/84

1976/77

3

Ordinary Q u a l i t y Seed F i r s t Grade Q u a l i t y Seed

310 325 330

34 0 355 360

358 373 378

600 615 620

900 920 930

900 940 970

900 990 1,060

22

Each group i s again divided i n t o t h r e e grades: o r d i n a r y , q u a l i t y seeds and f i r s t grade q u a l i t y seeds. The purchase p r i c e s f o r paddy i s f i x e d according t o i t s q u a l i t y and v a r i e t y . The annual purchase p r i c e s o f Ngasein paddy paid by AFPTC a r e shown i n Table 2.5 and p r i c e s of a g r i c u l t u r a l products o t h e r than paddy a r e shown i n Table 2.6.
I n t h e c a s e of groundnuts, f a r m e r s a r e organized t o s e l l about h a l f o f t h e produce t o c o o p e r a t i v e s a t c o n t r o l l e d p r i c e s and t h e remainder can be s o l d a t open market.

For government c o n t r o l l e d farm products, t a r g e t quotas a r e determined a t t h e n a t i o n a l l e v e l and t h e s e a r e e v e n t u a l l y a l l o c a t e d t o townships. The townships t h e n f u r t h e r s u b d i v i d e t h e r e q u i r e d quotas among t h e v i l l a g e t r a c t s where, a f t e r c o n s u l t a t i o n w i t h t h e farmers concerned, t a r g e t s a r e s e t f o r each farmer.
The government has promoted t h e e x t e n s i v e c u l t i v a t i o n of H Y V s because t h e production c o s t per basket f o r HYV paddy i s

considerably lower. As a g e n e r a l r u l e , f a r m e r s p a r t i c i p a t i n g i n HYV s p e c i a l programs a r e a l l o c a t e d a h i g h e r t a r g e t . Fertilizers, improved s e e d s and p e s t i c i d e s a r e included a s a package i n o r d e r t o r a i s e production. Farmers growing c o n t r o l l e d c r o p s r e c e i v e p r i o r i t y t o buy f e r t i l i z e r s and i n s e c t i c i d e s a t a s u b s i d i z e d p r i c e . Nitrogen f e r t i l i z e r s a r e more r e a d i l y a v a i l a b l e than phosphate and potash f e r t i l i z e r s because of t h e two urea p l a n t s i n Burma., Nitrogen c o s t s a r e p a r t i a l l y s u b s i d i z e d and a mechanism f o r d i s t r i b u t i o n has been e s t a b l i s h e d by t h e A g r i c u l t u r e Corporation. Rice f a r m e r s were a l l o t e d 5 0 k g o f u r e a f e r t i l i z e r p e r a c r e f o r H Y V a n d 2 5 k g o f u r e a f e r t i l i z e r p e r a c r e f o r l o c a l improved varieties.

23

Table 2.6 P r i c e s of A g r i c u l t u r a l P r o d u c e F i x e d by t h e S t a t e 1983=84

~~

~~

Commodity Jute (first class) Cotton (long s t a p l e ) Sugarcane Pulses V i r g i n i a T o b a c c o Leaf ( g r e e n ) Maize

Price
K K K K K
3.55 7.00 100 20-50

Per U n i t

1.40 K 20

per v i s s p e r viss per long ton per b a s k e t of 72 l b s per v i s s p e r b a s k e t o f 55 l b s

A t the township f e r t i l i z e r depots, t h e c o s t of urea f e r t i l i z e r i s K 9 p e r 25 kg, 50 kg o f t r i p l e s u p e r p h o s p h a t e (TSP) a t K 62 and m u r a t e o f p o t a s h a t K 29.90.
The farmer i s r e q u i r e d t o p a y c a s h , a l t h o u g h i n some i n s t a n c e s t h e MAB d o e s p r o v i d e c r e d i t o r AFPTC s u p p l i e s some

a d v a n c e p u r c h a s e funds.
A s t h e basic commodities are sold t o t h e public a t c o n t r o l l e d p r i c e s , t h e c o n s u m e r p r i c e i n d e x i n Burma i n c r e a s e s o n l y a t a v e r y s m a l l r a t e . Based on t h e p r i c e of c o n s u m e r g o o d s a t 100 f o r 1978, t h e p r i c e i n d e x f o r 1983 i s 118.20, an i n c r e a s e of 18.2 p e r c e n t f o r t h e l a s t 6 y e a r s o r an a n n u a l increase o f 3 percent.

R e g a r d i n g price p o l i c y , t h e AC of t h e M i n i s t r y o f A g r i c u l t u r e a n d F o r e s t s pr epar es f a r m b u d g e t s t o b e u s e d f o r a n a l y t i c a l p u r p o s e s i n p r o c u r e m e n t p r i c e s . The g o v e r n m e n t sets these p r i c e s f o r i n p u t s and o u t p u t s so a s t o e n c o u r a g e p r o d u c t i o n a n d n o t c a u s e undue i n f l a t i o n f o r f o o d i n t h e c o u n t r y .

24
A s t a t i s t i c a l l y a c c e p t a b l e s a m p l e s u r v e y of c o s t of

p r o d u c t i o n f o r farms is c o l l e c t e d and a n a l y z e d each year. T h e samples c o v e r c r o p s w h i c h a r e t o be p u r c h a s e d by t h e g o v e r n m e n t i n t h e f o l l o w i n g m a r k e t i n g y e a r . The sample is f u r t h e r s t r a t i f i e d f o r each c r o p by a g r o c l i m a t i c r e g i o n a n d by s e a s o n of p r o d u c t i o n . The monopoly p u r c h a s e prices a r e ' t h e n s e t t o c o v e r t h e c o s t of a p r e d e t e r m i n e d p o r t i o n o f t h e farm p r o d u c t i o n . T h e g o v e r n m e n t p a y s g r e a t c o n s i d e r a t i o n t o n a r r o w i n g down t h e m a r g i n between p r o c u r e m e n t p r i c e s f o r crops u n d e r t h e monopoly p u r c h a s e system.
2.5
2.5.1

P a s t and p r e s e n t p e r f o r m a n c e

Sector c o n t r i b u t i o n The d e v e l o p m e n t of a g r i c u l t u r e c o n s t i t u t e s a major g o a l in t h e n a t i o n a l e c o n o m i c d e v e l o p m e n t p r o g r a m s o f Burma. A s e r i e s of F o u r Year P l a n s (FYP) a r e b e i n g i m p l e m e n t e d by t h e G o v e r n m e n t of Burma w i t h i n t h e framework of a 20-yearr l o n g - t e r m p e r s p e c t i v e p l a n e n d i n g 1989-90 ( f i f t h FYP) w i t h t h e f o l l o w i n g o b j e c t i v e s set f o r t h e a g r i c u l t u r a l sector: (1) a t t a i n s e l f - s u f f i c i e n c y i n a l l food c r o p s ; (2) p r o d u c e a d e q u a t e raw m a t e r i a l s f o r t h e agro-based n a t i o n a l i n d u s t r i e s ; a n d ( 3 ) p r o m o t e t h e e x p o r t p o t e n t i a l of t h e various a g r i c u l t u r a l products.
D u r i n g t h e t h i r d FYP, t a r g e t s of t h e a g r i c u l t u r e sector were exceeded. From 1976-77 t o 1979-80, a g r i c u l t u r a l o u t p u t i n c l u d i n g l i v e s t o c k , f i s h e r i e s a n d f o r e s t r y grew a t a n a v e r a g e a n n u a l r a t e of 7.7 p e r c e n t compared t o 1.3 p e r c e n t per annum i n t h e p r e v i o u s 10 y e a r s . From 1979-80 t o 1980-81, t h e r a t e o f i n c r e a s e w a s 11.3 p e r c e n t a n d a c c o u n t e d f o r t w o - t h i r d s o f t h e g r o w t h of GDP. It a l s o a c c o u n t e d f o r a b o u t 67 percent of t o t a l e m p l o y m e n t a n d 80 p e r c e n t of t o t a l e x p o r t s . The increase i n a g r i c u l t u r a l o u t p u t was 9.2 p e r c e n t i n 1981-82, 8.9 p e r c e n t i n 1982-83, a n d 4.8 p e r c e n t i n 1983-84. The d e c l i n e i n 1983-84 was d u e t o t h e u n f a v o r a b l e weather c o n d i t i o n s .

b

25

4

I n 1977-78, t h e t o t a l sown acreage was 23.58 m i l l i o n a c r e s w h i c h comprised 20.04 m i l l i o n a c r e s of net sown and 3.54 m i l l i o n a c r e s of m u l t i p l e and m i x e d cropping. By 1981-82, t h e t o t a l sown acreage amounted t o 25.49 m i l l i o n a c r e s , of which t h e n e t sown was 20.89 m i l l i o n a c r e s and t h a t o f m u l t i p l e and mixed cropping was 4.6 m i l l i o n acres. I n a s s e s s i n g t h e achievements a g a i n s t t h e p l a n t a r g e t s , i t was found t h a t w h i l e t h e n e t a r e a sown decreased by 7,000 a c r e s , t h e m u l t i p l e and m i x e d cropping a r e a s an i n c r e a s e of approximately increased by about 315,000 a c r e s 308,000 a c r e s i n t o t a l sown acreage over t h a t of t h e plan t a r g e t . T h e r e had been a y e a r l y i n c r e a s e i n t o t a l sown acreage, n e t a r e a s sown and m u l t i p l e and m i x e d cropping a r e a d u r i n g t h e t h i r d FYP. I n 1982-83, t h e n e t sown a r e a increased t o 24.5 m i l l i o n acres. The p r o v i s i o n a l d a t a f o r 1983-84 i s 25 m i l l i o n a c r e s .

--

B e g i n n i n g i n 1970, t h e government has g i v e n h i g h p r i o r i t y t o i n v e s t m e n t s t o o b t a i n a more i n t e n s i v e c u l t i v a t i o n of e x i s t i n g

land u n d e r r a i n f e d c o n d i t i o n s , p a r t i c u l a r l y i n lower and c e n t r a l Burma. R e l a t i v e l y lower p r i o r i t y has been given t o investments t o extend i r r i g a t i o n , f o r drainage and flood c o n t r o l , o r f o r extension of t h e c u l t i v a t i o n area. Consequently, t h e n e t c u l t i vated a r e a increased by o n l y 878,000 a c r e s i n 1971-72 t o 1980-81; t h e i r r i g a t e d a r e a increased from 2,073,000 t o 2,651,000 a c r e s d u r i n g t h e same period. The p r o g r e s s i n i r r i g a t e d a r e a from 1970-71 t o 1983-84 i s g i v e n i n Table 2.7.
The p o l i c y i n t h e l a t e 1970s was t o i n t r o d u c e i n t e n s i v e

measures t o promote increased production of paddy i n o r d e r t o meet domestic demand and t o provide an i n c r e a s i n g s u r p l u s f o r export. It t h e r e f o r e introduced a s e l e c t i v e and concentrated s t r a t e g y which involved t h e adoption of proven technology, t h e l e a d e r s h i p of l o c a l l e v e l p o l i t i c a l bodies, s e l e c t i v e and conc e n t r a t e d use of land and t e c h n i c i a n s and promotion of mass participation.

26

T a b l e 2.7

P r o g r e s s i n I r r i g a t e d Area (000 a c r e s )

1970-71 197 1-72 1972-73 1973-74 1974-75 1975-76 1976-77 1977-78 1978-79 1979-80 1980-81 1981-82 1982-83 1983-84

19,674 19,482 19,927 20,023 20,088 19,838 20.041 20 390 19,908 20,552 20 ,789 20 337 20 438

2,199 2,198 2,400 2,412 2 ,432 2,318 2,422 2,579 2,468 2,651 2,579 2,497 2,622

t

5 . u -

F o l l o w i n g t h e i n t e n s i v e p i l o t program i n 1975-77, t h e Whole T o w n s h i p Paddy P r o d u c t i o n D e v e l o p m e n t P r o g r a m (WTPPDP) was i n t r o d u c e d i n two t o w n s h i p s i n s o u t h e r n Burma in t h e 1977-78 c r o p s e a s o n . The m a i n f e a t u r e s of WTPPDP i n c l u d e more i n t e n s i v e u s e of e x o t i c a n d l o c a l l y b r e d H Y V s , t h e i n t r o d u c t i o n of i m p r o v e d c u l t i v a t i o n p r a c t i c e s , a n d t h e a p p l i c a t i o n of recommended r a t e of f e r t i l i z e r . WTPPDP was e x t e n d e d t o c o v e r 78 t o w n s h i p s i n 1981-82, i n v o l v i n g 6,426,000 acres o r a b o u t 48 p e r c e n t o f t h e a r e a sown t o paddy. I n 1982-83, t h e sown a r e a i n c r e a s e d t o 6,445,000 acres a n d 82 t o w n s h i p s .
A p a r t from paddy, 19 crops ( w h e a t , maize seed, matpe, b u t t e r b e a n s r s u l t a p y a , gram, p e s i n g o n , monsoon g r o u n d n u t , w i n t e r g r o u n d n u t , e a r l y sesamum, s u n f l o w e r , w a g y i , M a h l a i n g 5/6 c o t t o n ,

27

early long staple cotton, l a t e long staple cotton, jute, s u g a r c a n e , p o t a t o e s a n d sorghum) were p u t on t o w n s h i p s p e c i a l h i g h y i e l d programs i n 43 t o w n s h i p s i n 1980-81 a n d f u r t h e r e x t e n d e d t o 61 t o w n s h i p s i n 1981-82. I n 1983-84, i t i n c r e a s e d t o 86 t o w n s h i p s .

'

The AFPTC p r o c u r e s p a d d y and o t h e r c r o p s from farmers, d i s t r i b u t e s r i c e from s u r p l u s a r e a s t o d e f i c i e n t a r e a s , a n d e x p o r t s t h e surplus. AFPTC p r o c u r e s a b o u t 35 p e r c e n t of t h e t o t a l paddy c r o p a n d t h e a m o u n t p r o c u r e d i n c r e a s e d from 2.2 M t i n 1977 t o 4 . 0 M t i n 1983. AFPTC m a i n t a i n s o v e r 800 p r o c u r e m e n t c e n t e r s , e a c h s e r v i n g 20 t o 30 v i l l a g e s . The p r o c u r e m e n t q u o t a f o r e a c h f a r m i s b a s e d on t o t a l p r o d u c t i o n l e s s t h e a m o u n t f o r domestic consumption, f o r payments i n k i n d , and f o r s a l e on t h e free market. I n c e n t i v e s a r e o f f e r e d t o farmers who s e l l a l l t h e i r p r o d u c e t o AFPTC, a s well a s f o r r i c e v a r i e t i e s p o p u l a r on i n t e r n a t i o n a l markets. P r i c e s f o r a l l v a r i e t i e s of paddy were i n c r e a s e d by 51 p e r c e n t b e t w e e n 1971 a n d 1974 a n d by 1984 t h e p r i c e o f h i g h q u a l i t y paddy was i n c r e a s e d by a f u r t h e r 15 percent. Paddy i s g r a d e d by AFPTC a t p r o c u r e m e n t c e n t e r s , e a c h v a r i e t y b e i n g c l a s s i f i e d i n t o t h r e e main g r a d e s a s p r e v i o u s l y d e s c r i b e d . P r o c u r e m e n t p r i c e s r a n g e f r o m K 9 0 0 t o K l r 3 0 0 p e r 100 b a s k e t s depending on t h e v a r i e t y and q u a l i t y . P r i c e d i f f e r e n t i a l s have r e c e n t l y b e e n i n c r e a s e d i n f a v o r of i n t e r n a t i o n a l l y p r e f e r r e d premium grades. Changes i n g o v e r n m e n t p o l i c i e s o v e r t h e p a s t decade h a v e e n a b l e d i t t o i n t r o d u c e new t e c h n o l o g i c a l a n d a g r o n o m i c t e c h n i q u e s w i t h t h e a c t i v e p a r t i c i p a t i o n of farmers. T h e s e e f f o r t s have r e s u l t e d i n s u b s t a n t i a l i n c r e a s e s i n production and y i e l d s , which have b e e n of c o n s i d e r a b l e b e n e f i t b o t h t o t h e farmers and t h e country.

28

Paddy p r o d u c t i o n i n c r e a s e d f r o m 7.6 M t i n 1962-63 t o 14.4 M t i n 1982-83. P r o d u c t i o n of o t h e r c r o p s h a s a l s o m a r k e d l y increased.
T h e i n t r o d u c t i o n o f WTPPDP h a s l e d t o some d r a m a t i c changes i n farming p r a c t i c e s , i n c l u d i n g t h e i n t r o d u c t i o n of H Y V s a n d t h e r e l a t i v e l y h i g h a p p l i c a t i o n r a t e s o f chemical f e r t i l i z e r t o r e a l i z e HYV y i e l d p o t e n t i a l i n s h o r t e r g r o w i n g p e r i o d s . From 1970-71 t o 1977-78, t h e u s e of f e r t i l i z e r increased from 34,000 t o 141,000 t a n d d u r i n g t h e n e x t 3 y e a r s , w i t h t h e i n c r e a s e i n t o w n s h i p s i n v o l v e d i n WTPPDP, f e r t i l i z e r u s e i n c r e a s e d t o 241,000 t. An i n c r e a s e i n f e r t i l i z e r u s e t o 345,000 t i n 1982-83 was reported. A f u r t h e r i n c r e a s e i n f e r t i l i z e r u s e t o 372,000 t by 1983-84 i s p r o j e c t e d . The f o u r t h FYP w h i c h c o v e r s t h e p e r i o d f r o m 1982-83 t h r o u g h 1985-86 i s b e i n g i m p l e m e n t e d and t h e a g r i c u l t u r e s e c t o r i s m a i n l y r e s p o n s i b l e f o r m e e t i n g t h e food r e q u i r e m e n t s o f t h e p e o p l e ? s u p p l y i n g raw m a t e r i a l s t o t h e l o c a l p r o c e s s i n g a n d m a n u f a c t u r i n g sector and a c c o u n t i n g f o r t h e m a j o r s h a r e o f f o r e i g n exchange

1

earnings capital investment.
2.5.2

P r o d u c t i o n by commodity I n 1981-82, t h e f i n a l y e a r of t h e t h i r d FYP, paddy p r o d u c t i o n was t a r g e t e d a t 11.04 M t , w h i l e t h e a c t u a l p r o d u c t i o n was 13.92 M t , an excess of 2.88 M t . S i m i l a r l y , t h e p r o d u c t i o n of maize seed was t a r g e t e d a t 0.154 M t w h i l e a c t u a l p r o d u c t i o n was 0.228 M t a n d t h e p r o d u c t i o n of p u l s e s was t a r g e t e d a t 0.44 M t w h i l e p r o d u c t i o n was 0.5 M t . P r o d u c t i o n o f s u n f l o w e r and V i r g i n i a tobacco a l s o exceeded t h e i r t a r g e t s d u r i n g 1981-82, w h i l e wheat? g r o u n d n u t , sesamum, c o t t o n , j u t e a n d s u g a r c a n e p r o d u c t i o n f e l l s h o r t of t h e targets. Reviewing t h e o v e r a l l p e r f o r m a n c e o f a g r i c u l t u r e d u r i n g t h e t h i r d FYP, i t was f o u n d t h a t a g r i c u l t u r a l production recorded s i g n i f i c a n t i n c r e a s e mainly d u e t o I n c r e a s e s i n y i e l d per acre of p r i n c i p a l c r o p s . P r o d u c -

29

t i o n o f c e r e a l c r o p s s u c h a s p a d d y , m a i z e a n d o t h e r s was found t o be s a t i s f a c t o r y .
I n 1983-84, d u r i n g t h e f o u r t h FYP, t h e t a r g e t e d production of paddy was 7,095 m i l l i o n b a s k e t s while t h e a c t u a l production was 6,897 m i l l i o n . Compared w i t h t h e production of t h e previous year, an i n c r e a s e of 8 m i l l i o n b a s k e t s was achieved. I n t h e c a s e Of wheat, maize, p u l s e s , sunflower, sugarcane and tobacco, i t was found t h a t t h e production exceeded t h e previous year and a l s o t h a t of t h e t a r g e t . Groundnut, sesamum and c o t t o n f e l l s h o r t of t h e t a r g e t s b u t exceeded t h e previous y e a r ' s production.
2.5.3

Exports A g r i c u l t u r e i s t h e mainstay of Burma's economy, producing s t a p l e food f o r domestic consumption a s well a s raw m a t e r i a l s f o r t h e i n d u s t r i a l sector. I n addition, it is a l s o responsible f o r earning f o r e i g n exchange needed f o r t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e country by export of s u r p l u s a g r i c u l t u r a l products. Export of a g r i c u l t u r a l products increased y e a r l y , t h e value of export having increased from K 1,069.7 m i l l i o n i n 1977-78 t o K 1,951.7 m i l l i o n i n 1981-82. The export value of a g r i c u l t u r e products i n 1982-83 was K 1,566.8 m i l l i o n . T h i s reduction i n t h e export value was d u e t o t h e reduced export p r i c e s f o r r i c e and maize.

2 . 5 . 4

Imports As more consumer goods, c a p i t a l goods, s p a r e p a r t s and raw m a t e r i a l s have t o be imported according t o economic and s o c i a l n e e d s o f t h e c o u n t r y , t h e i m p o r t v a l u e i s more t h a n t h e f o r e i g n exchange e a r n i n g s from e x p o r t s r e s u l t i n g i n a d e f i c i t i n e x t e r n a l t r a d e . Accordingly, i m p o r t s o f - i n v e s t m e n t goods which a r e I n d i s p e n s a b l e f o r n a t i o n a l requirements a r e financed b y f o r e i g n l o a n s and aid. The import value was K 2,086 m i l l i o n i n 1977-78 and i n t h e s u c c e s s i v e y e a r s an a c c e l e r a t i o n of i m p o r t s i s noted. I n t h e year 1982-83 t h e y were K 6,566.8 m i l l i o n . Foodstuff I m p o r t was o n l y a b o u t 2 p e r c e n t o f t h e t o t a l i m p o r t .

30
2.6

Policy issues

Since 1964, t h e Government o f t h e Union of Burma h a s p l a c e d g r e a t e m p h a s i s on t h e n e e d f o r s e l f - s u f f i c i e n c y , n o t w i t h s t a n d i n g t h e r e q u i r e m e n t f o r i n c r e a s i n g e c o n o m i c g r o w t h . I n 1972, n a t i o n a l g u i d e l i n e s were l a i d down i n t h e Twenty Year P l a n w h i c h i n c o r p o r a t e d t h e p o l i c i e s o f t h e Burma S o c i a l i s t Programme P a r t y . T h i s p l a n i s d i v i d e d i n t o f i v e FYPs, e a c h s u b j e c t t o a n n u a l

i

review.
The p o l i c i e s f o r m u l a t e d by t h e g o v e r n m e n t i n t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e a g r i c u l t u r a l s e c t o r a r e t h e r o l e s p l a y e d by t h e l o c a l o r g a n s of t h e Burma S o c i a l i s t Programme P a r t y , t h e P e a s a n t s a n d W o r k e r s A s s o c i a t i o n s and t h e P e o p l e ' s C o u n c i l . W i t h t h e a c t i v e i n v o l v e m e n t and t h e c o n s e q u e n t a d v a n t a g e s o f l o c a l knowledge o f t h e p r e v a i l i n g economic and s o c i a l c o n d i t i o n s i n t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e a r e a s , l o c a l l y e l e c t e d f u n c t i o n a r i e s a r e a b l e t o m o b i l i z e and l e a d t h e f a r m e r s . T h u s t h e y a r e a b l e t o make a s i g n i f i c a n t cont r i b u t i o n t o i m p l e m e n t i n g and m o n i t o r i n g t h e d e v e l o p m e n t p l a n s e s t a b l i s h e d by t h e g o v e r n m e n t .

D u r i n g p l a n t i n g a n d h a r v e s t i n g time, t h e P e o p l e ' s C o u n c i l s a n d A s s o c i a t i o n s o r g a n i z e v o l u n t a r y l a b o r . The u r b a n workers, t h e Armed F o r c e s a n d members o f t h e L a n z i n Youth O r g a n i z a t i o n s u p p l e m e n t l a b o r d u r i n g t h e times o f s h o r t a g e . The a d v a n t a g e s o f t h e a c t i v e p a r t i c i p a t i o n o f v o l u n t e e r l a b o r are: ( 1 ) it r e d u c e s t h e c o s t o f p r o d u c t i o n ; (2) i t e a s e s t h e s e a s o n a l s h o r t a g e of labor; and ( 3 ) it promotes better u n d e r s t a n d i n g between f a r m e r s a n d t h e l o c a l i n s t i t u t i o n s a n d Armed F o r c e s .
T h i s a p p r o a c h was u s e d i n t h e i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f t h e Whole Township S p e c i a l High Y i e l d Paddy P r o d u c t i o n Program.

Development o f t h e a g r i c u l t u r a l s e c t o r i s l a r g e l y due t o t h i s program. W i t h t h e a c t i v e i n v o l v e m e n t o f t h e l o c a l o r g a n s of t h e Burma S o c i a l i s t Programme P a r t y , t h e P e a s a n t a n d Worker

31

A s s o c i a t i o n s and t h e P e o p l e ' s C o u n c i l s , t h e p r o g r a m i s a s u c c e s s . The p r o g r a m i n v o l v e s a package o f i m p r o v e d p r a c t i c e s i n c l u d i n g v a r i e t i e s , f e r t i l i z e r s , p e s t c o n t r o l , recommended t r a n s p l a n t i n g time, w e e d i n g , e t c .
T h i s p r o g r a m receives t h e p o p u l a r p a r t i c i p a t i o n o f farmers.

Annual p l a n s and t a r g e t s f o r c r o p p i n g p a t t e r n , sown a r e a and production g o a l s are s u b j e c t e d t o t h e c l o s e s c r u t i n y o f t h e P e o p l e ' s C o u n c i l s . Moreover, t h e P e o p l e ' s C o u n c i l s p a r t i c i p a t e a c t i v e l y i n t h e c o o r d i n a t i o n of p r o d u c t i o n and p r o c u r e m e n t . The p r o g r a m i s c a r r i e d o u t w i t h a campaign t y p e a p p r o a c h ; m o b i l i z a t i o n of t h e community t o p r o v i d e e x t r a l a b o r ; and t h e p r i o r i t y p r o v i s i o n o f consumer goods t o t h e p r o j e c t a r e a t o complement incomes

.

The Whole T o w n s h i p S p e c i a l High Y i e l d P a d d y P r o d u c t i o n P r o g r a m c o v e r s o v e r h a l f o f a l l t h e c o u n t r y ' s a r e a u n d e r paddy. The p r o d u c t i o n h a s i n c r e a s e d by a r e m a r k a b l e 65 percent from 1974-75 t o 1982, w i t h a n a t i o n a l y i e l d r a i s e d from 1.65 t / h a t o almost 3 t/ha.

There is a l s o a p o l i c y t o stimulate and encourage t h e i n i t i a t i v e o f t h e farmer by o r g a n i z i n g y i e l d c o m p e t i t i o n s . The r e s u l t s have b e e n v e r y e n c o u r a g i n g w i t h t h e number o f farmers who were a b l e t o p r o d u c e 100 b a s k e t s o r more o f paddy f r o m a n a c r e .
The AC a l s o r u n s f o r m a l t r a i n i n g f o r f a r m e r s a t p r o d u c t i o n camps l o c a t e d i n t h e r u r a l a r e a s . T e n t o twelve v i l l a g e e x t e n s i o n w o r k e r s l i v e t o g e t h e r a t t h e camp t o benefit:from t h e i n t e r c h a n g e o f i d e a s . The camps a r e p r o v i d e d w i t h f a c i l i t i e s f o r s t a g i n g of s e m i n a r s and meetings. T e c h n i c i a n s a n d o t h e r a g r i -

c u l t u r a l s p e c i a l i s t s r e g u l a r l y v i s i t t h e s e camps t o s u p p o r t and complement t h e work o f t h e e x t e n s i o n s t a f f .
T h i s form of e x t e n s i o n s t r a t e g y u s i n g p r o d u c t i o n camps a n d core-team e x t e n s i o n w o r k e r s i s known a s t h e s e l e c t i v e -

32

c o n c e n t r a t i v e strategy. S e l e c t i v i t y and c o n c e n t r a t i o n a r e a p p l i e d i n terms o f l o c a t i o n , c r o p v a r i e t y a n d e x t e n s i o n s e r v i c e p e r s o n n e l . The p r o g r a m was s t a r t e d on an o p e r a t i o n a l b a s i s d u r i n g t h e 1979-80 f i s c a l y e a r and e x t e n d e d t o c o v e r a b o u t 2 . 4 m i l l i o n ha ( 6 m i l l i o n acres) i n 1981-82 a n d i n v o l v e d 7 8 t o w n s h i p s . A t present t h e S H Y V p r o g r a m f o r paddy c o v e r s 82 townships.
T h i s method o f s e l e c t i v e - c o n c e n t r a t i v e s t r a t e g y i s a l s o b e i n g u t i l i z e d t o i m p r o v e t h e p r o d u c t i o n of o t h e r crops. D u r i n g 1980, Whole T o w n s h i p High Y i e l d V a r i e t y S p e c i a l P r o g r a m s were

\

l a u n c h e d f o r m a i z e , g r o u n d n u t , sunflower, c o t t o n , wheat, s o r g h u m , j u t e , p o t a t o and p u l s e s . The f o l l o w i n g a r e t h e whole t o w n s h i p p r o g r a m s now i n o p e r a t i o n : maize i n 9 t o w n s h i p s ; monsoon g r o u n d n u t i n 4; w i n t e r g r o u n d n u t i n 11; s u n f l o w e r i n 6; c o t t o n i n 12; wheat i n 14; s u g a r c a n e i n 5; sorghum i n 2; j u t e i n 1; p o t a t o i n 3 ; a n d 15 t o w n s h i p s g r o w i n g v a r i o u s p u l s e s .
These p r o g r a m s have a l r e a d y produced s i g n i f i c a n t y i e l d increases i n c o t t o n , maize, wheat, g r o u n d n u t a n d s u g a r c a n e a n d in t h e t o w n s h i p s p r o m o t i n g t h e s p e c i a l HYV p r o g r a m s , average y i e l d s a r e two t o t h r e e times t h e n a t i o n a l f i g u r e s .

33 3

The N a t i o n a l A g r i c u l t u r a l Research S y s t e m ( N A R S )

O v e r a l l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r managing and implementing a g r i c u l t u r a l a c t i v i t i e s rests w i t h t h e M i n i s t r y o f A g r i c u l t u r e a n d F o r e s t s , which c o n s i s t s of s e v e n D e p a r t m e n t s a n d t h r e e C o r p o r a t i o n s . The A g r i c u l t u r e C o r p o r a t i o n , u n d e r i t s Managing Director, i s r e s p o n s i b l e f o r a l l a s p e c t s of c r o p research, development and production.
Research n e e d s a r e e n s u r e d by two s e p a r a t e b u t v e r y s i m i l a r b o d i e s , t h e A g r i c u l t u r e Research I n s t i t u t e ( A R I ) a n d t h e A p p l i e d Research D i v i s i o n ( A R D ) b o t h headed by G e n e r a l Managers.

D u r i n g t h e t h i r d FYP p e r i o d (1978-79 t o 1981-82) a n a v e r a g e a n n u a l g r o w t h r a t e of 5.8 percent f o r t h e a g r i c u l t u r a l sector was t a r g e t e d by t h e g o v e r n m e n t w h i l e s e t t i n g u p s p e c i f i c t a r g e t s f o r i n c r e a s i n g t h e y i e l d p e r u n i t a r e a a n d t o t a l p r o d u c t i o n of i m p o r t a n t f i e l d food c r o p s a n d i n d u s t r i a l raw m a t e r i a l crops. Recognizing t h e need f o r a c c e l e r a t i n g c r o p improvement research w h i c h would l e a d t o i n c r e a s e d p r o d u c t i o n , t h e g o v e r n m e n t i n i t i a t e d a program t o s t r e n g t h e n t h e c r o p i m p r o v e m e n t research programs

.

The u l t i m a t e o b j e c t i v e of t h e c r o p d e v e l o p m e n t a c t i v i t i e s

was t o e v o l v e h i g h y i e l d i n g , management r e s p o n s i v e v a r i e t i e s a n d i m p r o v e d c u l t u r a l p r a c t i c e s f o r many d i f f e r e n t c r o p s a n d t o e x t e n d t h e s e t o t h e farmers' f i e l d s , i n o r d e r t o e n h a n c e t h e i r p r o d u c t i o n i n t h e country. In' each caser t h e program ,started w i t h survey t r a v e l s and d i s c u s s i o n s w i t h t h e n a t i o n a l s t a f f t o assess t h e e x i s t i n g s i t u a t i o n and r e q u i r e m e n t s . The s p e c t r a of l a n d v a r i e t i e s a n d t h e p r e v a i l i n g p r o d u c t i o n p r a c t i c e s were p a r t i c u l a r l y observed and a s a result, t h e p r o d u c t i v i t y c o n s t r a i n t s f o r v a r i o u s c r o p s were i d e n t i f i e d . V a r i e t a l i m p r o v e m e n t a n d a g r o n o m i c research programs were t h e n f o r m u l a t e d f o r e a c h o f t h e c r o p s a n d a r e now a t v a r i o u s s t a g e s o f t h e i r

34

execution. For c r o p s l i k e maize, j u t e , wheat and sorghum, t h e s e e f f o r t s have a l r e a d y r e s u l t e d i n t h e r e l e a s e of HYVs. T h e s e v a r i e t i e s w i t h t h e i r impressive y i e l d s u p e r i o r i t y over t h e e x i s t i n g c u l t i v a r s have a l r e a d y spread over s e v e r a l h u n d r e d t o s e v e r a l thousand a c r e s of farmers' land and have been e n t h u s i a s t i c a l l y received by f a r m e r s a s w e l l a s extension workers. Simultaneously w i t h t h e v a r i e t a l improvement program, a number of agronomic experiments were conducted a s p a r t of t h e p r o j e c t program implementation t o develop an a p p r o p r i a t e production technology commensurate w i t h h i g h y i e l d . Based on t h e r e s u l t s from t h e s e experiments, s p e c i f i c recommendations and production g u i d e l i n e s have been developed f o r v a r i o u s c r o p s and i n most c a s e s t h e s e have a l r e a d y been adopted by t h e f a r m e r s along w i t h t h e new v a r i e t i e s , w i t h a n o t i c e a b l e impact on y i e l d .
I n planning crop improvement programs t h e o b j e c t i v e of a r a p i d t r a n s f e r of technology was always foremost. I n o r d e r t o make t h e l i n e of communication between t h e r e s e a r c h e r a n d t h e farmer more e f f e c t i v e , working groups comprising s t a f f from A R I , ARD and extension d i v i s i o n were c o n s t i t u t e d f o r each of t h e p r o j e c t c r o p s and t h e s e were made r e s p o n s i b l e f o r t h e planning, execution and e v a l u a t i o n of a l l phases of t h e crop development programs. Apart from u t i l i z i n g t h e f a c i l i t i e s a t t h e experiment s t a t i o n s , r e g i o n a l t e s t s f o r v a r i e t i e s and proposed production p r a c t i c e s were a l s o conducted on t h e farmers' f i e l d s i n c o l l a b o r a t i o n w i t h t h e extension s t a f f , r e s u l t i n g i n t h e i r d i r e c t involvement i n t h i s process. T h i s a s s o c i a t i o n has c o n t r i b u t e d towards a f a s t e r spread of t h e improved v a r i e t i e s and agronomic practices.

35
3.1 3.1.1

Institutional structure
The A g r i c u l t u r e R e s e a r c h I n s t i t u t e ( A R I ) T h i s i n s t i t u t e i s s i t u a t e d i n Y e z i n , some 250 miles n o r t h o f

Rangoon. I t i s r e s p o n s i b l e f o r b a s i c p r o g r a m s c o n n e c t e d w i t h p l a n t i m p r o v e m e n t , p l a n t p r o t e c t i o n a n d c r o p h u s b a n d r y and c r o p p h y s i o l o g y . A p p r o x i m a t e l y 1,400 a c r e s o f l a n d a r e a v a i l a b l e . The h o u s i n g a r e a r r o a d s , o f f i c e s and l a b o r a t o r i e s have r e q u i r e d t h e u s e o f a b o u t 250 a c r e s . Over a t h o u s a n d a c r e s i s u s e d f o r f i e l d r e s e a r c h work.

(1) (2) (3)

A R I h a s f i v e d i s c i p l i n a r y d i v i s i o n s and s e v e n c r o p d i v i s i o n s . T h e i n s t i t u t i o n a l s t r u c t u r e i s g i v e n i n T a b l e 3.2.

T h i s d i v i s i o n i s r e s p o n s i b l e f o r v a r i e t a l i m p r o v e m e n t on different c u l t u r a l types such as:

Irrigated lowland rice Rainfed lowland rice Upland r i c e ( l o w e l e v a t i o n ) (4) Upland r i c e ( h i g h e l e v a t i o n ) ( 5 ) Deep w a t e r r i c e (6) Cold t o l e r a n t r i c e (7) S a l t t o l e r a n t rice
The c o o p e r a t i n g agencies a r e t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l Rice Research I n s t i t u t e ( I R R I ) , P h i l i p p i n e s , A p p l i e d Research D i v i s i o n ( A R D ) , and t h e A g r i c u l t u r a l E x t e n s i o n D i v i s i o n .

Sixteen h i g h y i e l d i n g v a r i e t i e s s u i t a b l e f o r i r r i g a t e d a s well a s r a i n f e d l o w l a n d a n d u p l a n d a r e a s have been released. The a r e a u n d e r t h e s e v a r i e t i e s a t present exceeds t h r e e m i l l i o n acres. P r o m i s i n g new v a r i e t i e s a r e u n d e r t r i a l s i n f a r m e r s ' f i e l d s annually.

36

The improved v a r i e t i e s d e v e l o p e d b y ARI u p t o 1984 a r e a s follows: ( 1 ) through i n t r o d u c t i o n s w h i c h i n c l u d e s i x lowland v a r i e t i e s , f i v e upland (low e l e v a t i o n ) v a r i e t i e s , and t h r e e d e e p water v a r i e t i e s ; (2) through l o c a l l y developed h y b r i d s w h i c h i n c l u d e t h r e e lowland v a r i e t i e s * two upland (low e l e v a t i o n ) v a r i e t i e s , t h r e e s a l t t o l e r a n t v a r i e t i e s , and one deep water v a r i e t y ; and ( 3 ) through l o c a l l y developed mutants of w h i c h t h e r e were two lowland v a r i e t i e s .
T h e r e s e a r c h planning work for t h e Rice Division is shown i n Table 3.1.

Table 3 . 1

Program of Work f o r 1984-85

Blxsdiw
Hybridization S e l e c t i o n i n F1 g e n e r a t i o n S e l e c t i o n i n F2 g e n e r a t i o n S e l e c t i o n i n F3-F8 g e n e r a t i o n S e l e c t i o n of f i x e d h y b r i d s Germplasm c o l l e c t i o n Observation and s e l e c t i o n Maintenance Preliminary t e s t General t e s t Advanced t e s t
FENST

150 287 226 14,515 439

crosses crosses crosses progenies progenies

re

1,985 v a r i e t i e s 369 v a r i e t i e s 1,283 v a r i e t i e s 12 12 11 2

trials trials trials trials

379 217 137 22

varieties varieties varieties varieties

Breeder seed Foundation seed Registered seed

86 v a r i e t i e s 41 v a r i e t i e s 10 v a r i e t i e s

37

T h i s d i v i s i o n s t r e s s e s t h e f o l l o w i n g programs f o r t h e

improvement of maize, wheat and sorghum. Maize a c t i v i t i e s include breeding f o r e a r l i n e s s w i t h h i g h y i e l d p o t e n t i a l , b r e e d i n g f o r h i g h population t o l e r a n c e and e v o l u t i o n of s y n t h e t i c and open-pollinated v a r i e t i e s . Wheat a c t i v i t i e s i n c l u d e breeding f o r e a r l i n e s s w i t h h e a t t o l e r a n t c h a r a c t e r and f o r r u s t r e s i s t a n c e . Sorghum a c t i v i t i e s include breeding f o r e a r l i n e s s w i t h h i g h y i e l d p o t e n t i a l of g r a i n and fodder and f o r shoot-fly r e s i s t a n c e . Maize agronomy a c t i v i t i e s i n c l u d e d e t e r m i n i n g t h e optimum p l a n t population f o r medium, medium e a r l y and e a r l y v a r i e t i e s and t h e s t u d y of t h e responsiveness of N P K f e r t i l i z e r s .

One s y n t h e t i c and s i x open-pollinated v a r i e t i e s of maize were r e l e a s e d d u r i n g t h e period 1974-82. A population of 17,000 p l a n t s per a c r e f o r medium and 23,000 f o r medium e a r l y v a r i e t i e s were recommended. Applications o f 50-120 l b s of Nitrogen, 55 of Phosphorous Pentoxide a n d 30 of P o t a s s i u m O x i d e p e r a c r e were issued t o maize growers. As r e g a r d s wheat and sorghum, f i v e v a r i e t i e s of wheat and f i v e v a r i e t i e s of sorghum were d i s t r i b u t e d t o farmers.
Research planned f o r t h e c e r e a l d i v i s i o n f o r 1984-85 i s a s

Maintain 459 inbred l i n e s t h r o u g h s i b b i n g . Produce v a r i e t a l h y b r i d s f o r r e g i o n a l t e s t i n g . Evaluate new i n t r o d u c t i o n s . Continue e v a l u a t i o n of 100 new i n b r e d l i n e s . Maintain 551 v a r i e t i e s o f maize. Continue observation and s e l e c t i o n of 4,100 v a r i e t i e s of wheat a n d 272 v a r i e t i e s of sorghum. Continue experiments on time o f t h i n n i n g s e e d l i n g s , a n d time and methods of urea f e r t i l i z e r a p p l i c a t i o n t o maize, Determine e f f e c t i v e n e s s of N P K on wheat and sorghum.

c
The main o b j e c t i v e o f t h e d i v i s i o n ' s r e s e a r c h p r o g r a m i s t o i m p r o v e o r r e p l a c e t h e e x i s t i n g v a r i e t i e s w i t h more p r o d u c t i v e

ones. R e g a r d i n g carried out only and s u n f l o w e r i s e x o t i c and l o c a l

t h e v a r i e t a l i m p r o v e m e n t r b r e e d i n g work is b e i n g on sesamumt w h e r e a s t h e i m p r o v e m e n t o f g r o u n d n u t c a r r i e d o u t by i n t r o d u c t i o n and s e l e c t i o n o f

germplasms.

A t p r e s e n t t h e r e a r e 162 e x o t i c and 1 1 i n d i g e n o u s v a r i e t i e s o f g r o u n d n u t , 144 e x o t i c and 1 4 3 i n d i g e n o u s v a r i e t i e s o f sesamum and 26 e x o t i c v a r i e t i e s o f s u n f l o w e r u n d e r t r i a l and y i e l d t e s t s

f o r v a r i e t a l evaluation.
The d i v i s i o n i s a l s o c a r r y i n g o u t some a g r o t e c h n i q u e s ,

f e r t i l i z e r and p l a n t p r o t e c t i o n e x p e r i m e n t s on g r o u n d n u t r sesamum and s u n f l o w e r . R e g i o n a l tests a r e a l s o b e i n g c a r r i e d o u t by t h e division i n collaboration with extension s t a f f a t d i f f e r e n t l o c a l i t i e s t o i d e n t i f y t h e specific v a r i e t i e s .

g r o u n d n u t and o n e i m p r o v e d v a r i e t y e a c h o f sesamum and s u n f l o w e r t o t h e c u l t i v a t o r s f o r commercial c u l t i v a t i o n .

and j u t e .

T h i s d i v i s i o n h a s r e l e a s e d three improved v a r i e t i e s o f

B r e e d i n g and a g r o n o m i c r e s e a r c h a r e t h e m a j o r a c t i v i t i e s o f t h i s division. The r e s e a r c h p r o g r a m s i n o p e r a t i o n a r e f o r c o t t o n

Breeding a c t i v i t i e s f o r c o t t o n a r e f o r (1) high y i e l d w i t h b e t t e r q u a l i t y o f f i b e r ; (2) e a r l i n e s s w i t h i n s e c t t o l e r a n c e ; ( 3 ) s h o r t - b r a n c h e d t y p e w i t h p h o t o i n s e n s i t i v i t y ; and ( 4 ) c o l d tolerance with drought resistance.

Breeding a c t i v i t i e s f o r j u t e a r e f o r (1) high y i e l d w i t h b e t t e r f i b e r q u a l i t y ; (2) n o n - b r a n c h i n g t y p e w i t h p h o t o -

39

i n s e n s i t i v i t y ; ( 3 ) d r o u g h t r e s i s t a n c e w i t h q u i c k g r o w t h ; and (4) high population tolerance. For both c r o p s I emphasis is given t o t h e s e l e c t i o n o f c u l t i v a r s w h i c h a r e c o m p a t i b l e w i t h rice-based f a r m i n g s y s t e m s i n i r r i g a t i o n tracts. Agronomy work f o r c o t t o n i n c l u d e s ( 1 ) i n v e s t i g a t i o n o f narrow s p a c i n g w i t h s h o r t - b r a n c h e d t y p e ; ( 2 ) t h e s t u d y o f effectiveness o f d i f f e r e n t s p r a y e r s and i n s e c t i c i d e s o n y i e l d and q u a l i t y o f c o t t o n ; and (3) t h e study o f e f f i c i e n t u s e o f fertilizer. Agronomy work f o r j u t e i n c l u d e s ( 1 ) o b s e r v a t i o n o f d i f f e r e n t s t a g e s o f p l a n t g r o w t h a t harvest on t h e y i e l d and q u a l i t y o f f i b e r ; (2) d e t e r m i n i n g t h e e f f e c t of time o f p l a n t i n g o n d i f f e r e n t t y p e s o f c a p s u l a r i s j u t e ; (3) t h e s t u d y o f e f f i c i e n t u s e o f f e r t i l i z e r and m a n u r e s i n c l u d i n g t h e I p i l I p i l (L. Leucos e p h a l a ) l e a v e s ; a n d (4) t h e s t u d y o f f i b e r d i s t r i b u t i o n a t d i f f e r e n t p a r t s o f t h e p l a n t a t d i f f e r e n t s t a g e s o f p l a n t growth. R e s e a r c h p l a n n i n g w o r k s f o r t h e F i b e r Crop D i v i s i o n a r e a s f o l l o w s : ( 1 ) s e l e c t i o n f o r F1 t o F4 g e n e r a t i o n s o f b o t h c o t t o n a n d j u t e ; (2) e v a l u a t i o n o f some p r o m i s i n g v a r i e t i e s ; ( 3 ) m a i n t e n a n c e of 180 v a r i e t i e s of c o t t o n a n d 1 8 5 o f j u t e ; (4) s t u d y of t h e e f f e c t o f p a r a p l o u g h a n d s u b s o i l e r f o r c o t t o n on paddy l a n d ; and ( 5 ) s t u d y o f t h e e f f e c t o f l o c a l l y made j u t e r i b b i n g apparatus.

T h i s d i v i s i o n conducts v a r i e t a l improvement through hybridi z a t i o n a n d e v a l u a t i o n of 176 g e n o t y p e s a n d r e g i o n a l t e s t i n g of

7 2 g e n o t y p e s . I t a l s o c a r r i e s o u t research on optimum p l a n t i n g a n d h a r v e s t i n g d a t e s a s w e l l a s on water r e q u i r e m e n t s of w i d e l y grown v a r i e t i e s .

40

c
T h i s d i v i s i o n i s d e a l i n g w i t h r e s e a r c h on e v a l u a t i o n ,

a d a p t a b i l i t y t e s t s , a p p r o p r i a t e management p r a c t i c e s and m u l t i p l i c a t i o n of promising new food legume crops. Two each of t h e e a r l y maturing and t h e promising mung bean, cowpea, black gram and pigeonpea v a r i e t i e s have been r e l e a s e d and e x t e n s i v e l y grown by farmers. The o t h e r promising food legume crop v a r i e t i e s have been i d e n t i f i e d and a r e ready f o r seed m u l t i p l i c a t i o n . Apart from t h e proper recommendation of adapta b l e v a r i e t i e s , t h e a p p r o p r i a t e agrotechniques a r e advocated.

T h i s d i v i s i o n c o n c e n t r a t e s on r e s e a r c h such a s c o l l e c t i o n ,

(1)

s e l e c t i o n , b r e e d i n g of promising v a r i e t i e s , propagation and m u l t i p l i c a t i o n of f r u i t , f l o r i c u l t u r a l , ornamental and m e d i c i n a l p l a n t s . Production of p u r e vegetable s e e d s and f l o w e r seeds is a l s o c a r r i e d out.
The f i v e d i s c i p l i n a r y d i v i s i o n s emphasize programs t o

support crop production.

T h i s d i v i s i o n c a r r i e d out experiments on cropping s y s t e m

r e s e a r c h and development on 11 outreach s t a t i o n s . O u t of 11 s i t e s , 2 a r e u n d e r ARD, 1 a t ARI i s t h e main s t a t i o n and 8 a r e a t Extension Division farms. There a r e 78 AC t e c h n i c i a n s involved i n t h e programr of which 72 a r e conducting t h e r e s e a r c h work. I n 3 s i t e s s t a r t e d i n 1984, t h e r e a r e m u l t i l o c a t i o n t r i a l s of promising p a t t e r n s which involved 16 farmer cooperators.

C o l l a b o r a t i v e r e s e a r c h work w i t h I R R I and o t h e r r e s e a r c h centers i s b e i n g conducted i n t h r e e o t h e r A s i a n Rice Farming Systems Network (ARFSN) s i t e s . These a r e : Rice-Wheat r o t a t i o n t r i a l s i n t h r e e sites.

41
(2)

(1)

T r i a l s o f c o r n , mung bean a n d g r o u n d n u t b e f o r e r i c e i n two l o c a t i o n s . ( 3 ) T r i a l s o f s o y b e a n , sorghum, g r o u n d n u t and cowpea i n three l o c a t i o n s a f t e r rice. (4) P i g e o n p e a t r i a l i n o n e l o c a t i o n . ( 5 ) Tomato, mung b e a n . C h i n e s e cabbage a n d s o y b e a n t r i a l s f r o m A s i a n V e g e t a b l e R e s e a r c h Development C e n t e r (AVRDC) t h r o u g h I R R I . (6) Three s e t s o f cowpea t r i a l s from I I T A a t Y e z i n .

The major a c t i v i t i e s o f t h i s d i v i s i o n a r e t h e s t u d y o f t h e p h y s i o l o g i c a l a s p e c t s of crop p r o d u c t i o n a n d b r e e d i n g . M u t a t i o n b r e e d i n g , s e l e c t i o n and e v a l u a t i o n and p h y s i o l o g i c a l s t u d i e s o f i m p o r t a n t c r o p s have been c a r r i e d o u t .

The research p l a n f o r 1984-85 i s a s f o l l o w s : ( 1 ) c o n t i n u a t i o n o f t h e p h y s i o l o g i c a l s t u d i e s on i m p o r t a n t c r o p s ; (2) c o n t i n u a t i o n o f s e l e c t i o n o f M4 and M5 p r o g e n i e s o f Ngakwe, Taungbyan a n d S h w e t a s o k e r i c e v a r i e t i e s ; and ( 3 ) e v a l u a t i o n a n d s e l e c t i o n o f F2 g e n e r a t i o n d e r i v e d from t h e c u l t u r e o f F1 crosses.

3
This d i v i s i o n deals w i t h p l a n t n u t r i t i o n s t u d i e s , bio-

f e r t i l i z e r a p p l i c a t i o n and b i o - g a s p r o d u c t i o n f r o m a g r i c u l t u r e a n d f o r e s t waste. T h e p l a n n e d programs f o r t h e y e a r 1984-85 are:

Determine t h e e f f i c i e n c y of u r e a , a p p l i e d t o t h e r e d u c e d z o n e o f paddy s o i l . (2) S t u d y t h e r e s p o n s e o f r i c e c r o p t o s u l p h u r a n d z i n c a n d t h e a v a i l a b i l i t y of t h e n u t r i e n t s t o r i c e p l a n t . ( 3 ) S t u d y t h e u n i - a l g a l p r o d u c t i o n of b l u e - g r e e n a l g a e (BGA) a n d t h e p o t e n t i a l a m o u n t of n i t r o g e n f i x e d by
BCA

.

(4) S t u d y t h e e f f e c t of a z o l l a o n r i c e y i e l d .

42

species. Evaluation of i n s e c t i c i d e s and a p p l i c a t o r s , s c r e e n i n g of v a r i e t a l r e s i s t a n c e , i n s e c t c o l l e c t i o n and p r e s e r v a t i o n , etc,, a r e c a r r i e d out. Apart from t h e s e , c o l l a b o r a t i v e a c t i v i t i e s w i t h P l a n t Prot e c t i o n P r o j e c t (Extension) and C I D A - I R R I Burma P r o j e c t a r e a l s o i n progress.
P w n v -D Screening f o r d i s e a s e r e s i s t a n c e and f u n g i c i d e s f o r important crop d i s e a s e s i s c a r r i e d o u t every year,

(5)

Determine t h e p o t e n t i a l methane production of a g r i c u l t u r e and f o r e s t waste. (6) Develop e f f i c i e n c y of b i o - g a s s t o v e s and lamps.

T h i s d i v i s i o n s t r e s s e s p e s t management on a l l i m p o r t a n t c r o p

Sugarcane w h i p s m u t had been c o n t r o l l e d e f f i c i e n t l y and r e s i s t a n t v a r i e t i e s a g a i n s t sugarcane red r o t , r i c e b l a s t and r i c e b a c t e r i a l l e a f b l i g h t d i s e a s e s have been developed. E f f i c i e n c y of r h i z o b i a 1 s t r a i n s a g a i n s t d i f f e r e n t legumes h a v e also been i d e n t i f i e d .
A p p l i e d Research Division ( A R D ) T h i s d i v i s i o n i s one o f t h e s e v e n main b o d i e s o f A C under t h e M i n i s t r y of A g r i c u l t u r e and Forests. ARD h e a d q u a r t e r s a r e S i t u a t e d i n Rangoon and t h e r e a r e 20 c e n t r a l r e s e a r c h farms and 20 seed farms, l o c a t e d i n d i f f e r e n t c l i m a t i c and s o i l t r a c t s of t h e country where r e s e a r c h is c a r r i e d out. It c o n s i s t s of t h r e e d i v i s i o n s , namely t h e Research D i v i s i o n , Administration and T r a i n i n g Division and t h e Seed Technology Division, The s t r u c t u r e of t h e ARD is p r e s e n t e d i n Table 3.2.
3.1.2

T a b l e 3.2
.-

O r g a n i z a t i o n of A g r i c u l t u r e C o r p o r a t i o n Managing Director

~

I

I

G e n e r a l Manager Procurement Planning Statistics

I

G e n e r a l 'Manager Administration

1

G e n e r a l - Manager Applied Research Division
3 Divisions

I

I

a nage r General' M Accounts

I

Dy. G e n e i a l Hanager Land Use

I

G e n e r a l Manager Agr ic u l t ur a 1 :h Resea n I n s t 1t u t e
13 D i v i s i o n s

1

3 Divisions
S t a t e Farms S u p p l y and Distribution Statistics and P l a n s

I

4 Divisions
Coordination Administration

I

!Lrw&&m
Financial Procedures Budget

L!m!wAu
Plans Administration

I

Admin 1str a t i o n and T r a i n i n g

Administration Agronomy Botany

Re s e a r c h

.

Supply General

Seed Technology

Treasury S o i l Chemistry Monthly Account S t a t e m e n t and Audit P l a n t Pathology Entomology

Rice
Cereal Crops F i b e r Crops
O i l Seed C r o p s

Food Legumes C e n t r a l Farms

I Seed Farms

Sugar Crop Hor t i c u l t u r e

44
The main o b j e c t i v e s of ARD a r e : ( 1 ) t o e v o l v e i m p r o v e d c r o p

The research a c t i v i t i e s c a r r i e d o u t by t h e research d i v i s i o n include: (1) v a r i e t a l improvement through i n t r o d u c t i o n and b r e e d i n g ; (2) c r o p management by c u l t i v a t i o n t e c h n i q u e s ; ( 3 ) c r o p p i n g p a t t e r n s ; and (4) p l a n t p r o t e c t i o n t h r o u g h i n s e c t r d i s e a s e a n d weed c o n t r o l .

-

v a r i e t i e s and t o f i n d o u t b e t t e r crop management t e c h n i q u e s f o r d i f f e r e n t a g r o e c o l o g i c a l z o n e s o f Burma; (2) t o t r a n s f e r i m p r o v e d t e c h n o l o g y t o a g r i c u l t u r a l i s t s and farmers; a n d ( 3 ) t o m u l t i p l y a n d d i s t r i b u t e q u a l i t y seeds.

T h u s t h e main a c t i v i t i e s of ARD a r e v e r y much t h e same a s those of ARI.

s
A p a r t f r o m t h e n o r m a l p u r e seed p r o d u c t i o n p r o g r a m , a s p e c i a l Seed D e v e l o p m e n t P r o j e c t h a s b e e n c o n d u c t e d by ARD w i t h f i n a n c i n g from t h e World Bank s i n c e 1979. Under t h i s p r o j e c t , s i x c e n t r a l research farms a r e b e i n g d e v e l o p e d . Q u a l i t y Seed P r o d u c t i o n P r o j e c t GCP/BUR/016/DEN i s a l s o u n d e r w a y t o a s s i s t i n t h e i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f t h e N a t i o n a l S e e d Program. Six central farms a r e b e i n g d e v e l o p e d t o e s t a b l i s h a p r o g r a m f o r t h e p r o d u c t i o n of B a s i c , F o u n d a t i o n a n d Registered Seed o f wheat, m a i z e a n d sorghum.
The m a i n a c t i v i t i e s o f t h i s d i v i s i o n a r e f o r q u a l i t y seed p r o d u c t i o n and d i s t r i b u t i o n . M u l t i p l i c a t i o n r d r y i n g , p r o c e s s i n g , seed q u a l i t y c o n t r o l , t e s t i n g , c e r t i f i c a t i o n , s t o r a g e and d i s t r i b u t i o n a r e b e i n g c a r r i e d o u t f o r q u a l i t y seeds by t h i s d i v i s i o n . S i x t o e i g h t t h o u s a n d acres a r e d e v o t e d t o seed p r o d u c t i o n a n n u a l l y . The d i f f e r e n t crop seeds d i s t r i b u t e d i n 1983-84 a n d 1984-85, t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e p l a n f o r t h e c o m i n g y e a r , i s p r e s e n t e d i n T a b l e 3.3.

45 T~~~~ T h i s d i v i s i o n p r o v i d e s t e c h n i c a l t r a i n i n g and i n f o r m a t i o n t o i n - s e r v i c e s t a f f , p e a s a n t s a n d a r m y p e r s o n n e l . The t y p e s of t r a i n i n g and n u m b e r s t o b e t r a i n e d i n 1984-85 a r e shown i n T a b l e 3.4. I n s t i t u t e of A g r i c u l t u r e ( I A ) T h i s i n s t i t u t e i s u n d e r t h e M i n i s t r y of E d u c a t i o n a n d i s t h e only university level teaching center for agriculture graduate and p o s t g r a d u a t e s t u d e n t s i n t h e country. It is an independent i n s t i t u t e w i t h i t s own b a s i c science d e p a r t m e n t s . I t i s s i t e d i n Y e z i n , where i t s h a r e s a c a m p u s w i t h A R I , FRI a n d t h e I n s t i t u t e of Animal Husbandry a n d V e t e r i n a r y S c i e n c e .
3.1.3

The i n s t i t u t i o n a l s t r u c t u r e is d e p i c t e d i n T a b l e 3.5. It h a s f i v e major d i s c i p l i n a r y d e p a r t m e n t s , n a m e l y t h e Agronomy D e p a r t m e n t , t h e A g r i c u l t u r a l Botany D e p a r t m e n t , t h e A g r i c u l t u r a l Chemistry Department, t h e P l a n t Pathology Department and t h e

Entomology D e p a r t m e n t . The m a j o r s u p p o r t i n g d e p a r t m e n t s c o n s i s t of t h e A g r i c u l t u r a l E c o n o m i c s D e p a r t m e n t , t h e A g r i c u l t u r a l E n g i n e e r i n g D e p a r t m e n t , A n i m a l Science D e p a r t m e n t and t h e Hortic u l t u r e Department. The U n i v e r s i t y Farm is u s e d f o r t e a c h i n g , research a n d d e m o n s t r a t i o n p r o g r a m s o f t h e U n i v e r s i t y . It i s well p r o v i d e d w i t h i r r i g a t i o n a n d t h e farm a r e a i s a b o u t 200 acres. The c u r r i c u l u m i s m o d i f i e d t o g i v e t h e t y p e s o f t r a i n i n g s u i t e d t o t h e p r e s e n t d a y r e q u i r e m e n t of t h e g r a d u a t e s . More emphasis i s placed on t r a i n i n g i n c r o p p r o d u c t i o n and s t r o n g c o n c e n t r a t i o n on p r a c t i c a l t r a i n i n g i s g i v e n t o t h e f o u r t h and f i n a l year students.

46

T a b l e 3.3

Seed D i s t r i b u t i o n Program

--

--I__-_I-U_ILU----C1---.-----D---

Rice Basket Wheat N Maize n Sorghum N Groundnut n Sesamum N Sunflower 0 Long S t a p l e C o t t o n Viss S h o r t S t a p l e Cotton Viss Sugarcane Ton Pulses Basket

144,490 1,123 6,611 641 3,870 1,826 2,742 81 ,936 7 906 7.278 1,094

130,402 1,796 9.403 2,081 3 ,926 1,457 2,131 340,954 4,754 5,004 1,937

170,270 3,783 11,562 2,685 6 ,399 3,754 4,463 409,940 9,127 8,338 4,726

T a b l e 3.4

T r a i n i n g Programs f o r 1984-85
1 -

c c - - - D c I I I c I D -

-

Type of T r a i n i n g
_ c

-

No. of Trainees
508 150 1,200 2,840

Farmers Basic A g r i c u l t u r e T r a i n i n g Defence S e r v i c e A g r i c u l t u r e T r a i n i n g P a r t y Cadre B a s i c A g r i c u l t u r e S h o r t Course In-service T r a i n i n g O t h e r T r a i n i n g (Seed T e c h n o l o g y , P l a n t P r o t e c t i o n , Mushroom, P l a n t T i s s u e C u l t u r e , etc.) Total

--

420

5,118

C

'

G

I

Table 3.5 Organizational Structure of the Institute of Agriculture ( I A )

t

1

1

Departments

Departments

1

I

Knowledge o f t h e major d i s c i p l i n e s i s i n t e g r a t e d t o a s s i s t t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f a g r i c u l t u r e p o l i c i e s a n d t e a c h i n g , research and extension work.
The i n s t i t u t e a c c e p t s a b o u t 300 s t u d e n t s a n n u a l l y f o r a 5y e a r c o u r s e l e a d i n g t o a BAg d e g r e e . P o s t g r a d u a t e t r a i n i n g i s a v a i l a b l e t o c a n d i d a t e s i n t h e f i v e m a j o r d e p a r t m e n t s . The

u n d e r g r a d u a t e c u r r i c u l u m f o l l o w s a more t r a d i t i o n a l p a t t e r n r a t h e r t h a n t h e semester s y s t e m w h i l e t h e Master's c o u r s e s f o l l o w a semester c o u r s e s y s t e m , c o u p l e d w i t h a t h e s i s .
T h e p o s t g r a d u a t e r e s e a r c h p r o g r a m s a r e d i s c u s s e d and c o o r d i n a t e d by a research c o m m i t t e e u n d e r t h e c h a i r m a n s h i p o f t h e

Rector. Research i s c a r r i e d o u t by b o t h s t a f f and p o s t g r a d u a t e s t u d e n t s . Over 35 s t a f f a r e i n v o l v e d i n research 10 h a v e PhDs and 25 h a v e Master's degrees.

--

The c l o s e p r o x i m i t y o f I A and A R I h a s h e l p e d t o s t r e n g t h e n the interrelationship of the institutions. T h e r e i s a good

r e l a t i o n s h i p a t a l l l e v e l s w i t h ' t h e v a r i o u s d i v i s i o n s o f t h e AC, which is t h e main employer o f graduates o f t h e i n s t i t u t e . A s a l a r g e p e r c e n t a g e of t h e s t a f f of t h e Corporation are g r a d u a t e s o f t h e I n s t i t u t e , p e r s o n a l r e l a t i o n s between t h e two o r g a n i z a t i o n s are c o r d i a l .
3.2

S t a f f i n g i n NARS

The number o f s c i e n t i s t s i n v o l v e d i n t h e A g r i c u l t u r a l Science I n s t i t u t i o n s ( A R I , ARD and I A ) a r e p r e s e n t e d i n T a b l e s 3.6, 3 . 7 a n d 3.8. The n u m b e r s o f h i g h l y t r a i n e d p r o f e s s i o n a l s t a f f i n v o l v e d i n A R D i s s l i g h t l y more than A R I b u t t h e t o t a l s c i e n t i f i c s t a f f o f ARD is a t l e a s t f o u r times g r e a t e r t h a n t h a t of A R I .
A R D s t a f f a r e s p r e a d o v e r 2 0 c e n t r a l f a r m s a n d 20 s e e d f a r m s located i n t h e v a r i o u s a d m i n i s t r a t i v e and a g r o e c o l o g i c a l r e g i o n s

49

T a b l e 3.6

Type o f S t a f f PhD MS BS/BAg Note:

S t a f f of t h e A g r i c u l t u r e R e s e a r c h I n s t i t u t e i n 1984

Number

2

10

L i z
94

v
University Graduates Diploma H o l d e r s Non-Diploma H o l d e r s
30

35

29
89

Q u m G m f f O t h e r Permanent Employees Laborers

101

1cL8
249 432

T o t a l Number of Employees

I n a d m i n i s t r a t i o n o n e i n d i v i d u a l h o l d s an MS. I n admini s t r a t i o n a n d r e s e a r c h f u n c t i o n s t h e r e a r e n i n e who h o l d t h e MS and two who h o l d t h e PhD. I n r e s e a r c h t h e r e a r e 35 i n d i v i d u a l s who h o l d a d i p l o m a and 112 who h o l d a BAg.

50

T a b l e 3.7

Type of S t a f f PhD MS
BS/BAg

S c i e n t i f i c P e r s o n n e l of t h e A p p l i e d Research D i v i s i o n i n 1984
t

Number

6 14

Ea
173

w
University Graduates Diploma Holders Non-Diploma Holders
53 127
21p

390

lOther
O t h e r P e r m a n e n t Employees
478

Laborers

!Kill
949

Total

1,512

Note:

I n a d m i n i s t r a t i o n t h e r e i s o n e PhD. I n a d m i n i s t r a t i o n a n d r e s e a r c h f u n c t i o n s t h e r e a r e f i v e PhDs a n d f o u r t e e n MS h o l d e r s . In research f u n c t i o n s only t h e r e a r e 127 d i p l o m a h o l d e r s a n d 206 w i t h t h e BAg.

51

Table 3.8

S c i e n t i f i c P e r s o n n e l of t h e I n s t i t u t e o f A g r i c u l t u r e i n 1984

Type of S t a f f

Number

*
PhD
M S F i r s t Degree ( B A g I B S ) F i r s t Degree (BAg)

10 25 14 50

Diploma
o r t Straff U n i v e r s i t y G r a d u a t e s ( A l l BAg teaching s t a f f participate I n research a c t i v i t i e s ) Non-Diploma H o l d e r s Laborers

-2
101

80 100

3
230

Total

331

Note: I n a d m i n i s t r a t i o n t h e r e a r e o n e PhD and two w i t h t h e F i r s t Degree. I n a d m i n i s t r a t i o n , t e a c h i n g and r e s e a r c h f u n c t i o n s t h e r e a r e f i v e w i t h t h e PhD a n d n i n e w i t h t h e Master's. In t e a c h i n g a n d research f u n c t i o n s t h e r e a r e f o u r w i t h t h e PhD, t e n w i t h t h e Master's a n d f o u r t e e n w i t h t h e F i r s t Degree. I n t e a c h i n g f u n c t i o n s t h e r e a r e six w i t h M a s t e r s , 4 8 w i t h t h e F i r s t Degree a n d t w o w i t h a D i p l o m a .

52

of Burma, a n d t h e h e a d q u a r t e r s w i t h a d m i n i s t r a t i v e and t e c h n i c a l b a c k s t o p p i n g is i n Rangoon.
I n t h e I n s t i t u t e o f A g r i c u l t u r e , research f u n c t i o n s a r e c a r r i e d o u t by t h e D e p a r t m e n t a l Heads, a s s i s t e d by f a c u l t y members a n d s t u d e n t s . More p o s t g r a d u a t e degree h o l d e r s a r e p r e s e n t i n t h i s i n s t i t u t e c o m p a r e d t o A R I a n d ARD, b u t t h e research work c o u l d be c a r r i e d o u t o n l y a s p a r t i a l f u l f i l l m e n t o f t h e c o u n t r y ' s needs, since teaching i s t h e main o b j e c t i v e . However, t h e close p r o x i m i t y of I A and A R I h a s h e l p e d t o s t r e n g t h e n the interrelationship of the institutions.
3.3

M u l t i l a t e r a l a n d b i l a t e r a l a s s i s t a n c e p r o j e c t s w i t h research components

Burma's u s e o f e x t e r n a l a s s i s t a n c e h a s b e e n r i s i n g s t e a d i l y s i n c e 1970. P r o j e c t s f o r e x t e r n a l f i n a n c i n g were i n c l u d e d i n t h e g o v e r n m e n t ' s Twenty Y e a r D e v e l o p m e n t Program. S u c h p r o j e c t s f o r m t h e b a s i s f o r t h e t h i r d FYP. The h i g h e s t p r i o r i t y i s p l a c e d on e a s i n g t h e most i m m e d i a t e c o n s t r a i n t s t o g r o w t h a n d p a r t i c u l a r l y a t i n c r e a s i n g and d i v e r s i f y i n g p r o d u c t i o n f o r e x p o r t s . A c c o r d i n g l y , t h e e m p h a s i s i s on d e v e l o p i n g Burma's p r i m a r y p r o d u c i n g s e c t o r s and s u p p o r t i n g a c t i v i t i e s a n d , where a p p r o p r i a t e , through quick yielding projects. I n a g r i c u l t u r e , foreign a s s i s t a n c e i s needed f o r p r o j e c t s which c o n t r i b u t e t o i n t e n s i f i e d u s e of e x i s t i n g c u l t i v a t e d a r e a s a n d t h e r e c l a m a t i o n of a b a n d o n e d l a n d . T h i s would i n c l u d e : research and e x t e n s i o n s e r v i c e s ; p r o v i s i o n o f e s s e n t i a l i n p u t s e s p e c i a l l y HYVs, f e r t i l i z e r and l i g h t a g r i c u l t u r a l m a c h i n e r y ; i m p r o v e m e n t of i r r i g a t i o n f a c i l i t i e s i n c l u d i n g t u b e w e l l development; and i n t e g r a t e d a g r i c u l t u r a l d e v e l o p m e n t p r o j e c t s where t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p s b e t w e e n services a n d i n p u t s are important.
A number o f b i l a t e r a l and m u l t i l a t e r a l a i d funded projects

have b e e n e s t a b l i s h e d i n order t o a s s i s t a g r i c u l t u r a l p r o d u c t i o n a n d research w i t h i n t h e c o u n t r y . A l i s t i n g o f t h e o n g o i n g

53

I

p r o j e c t s , c o n t r i b u t e d f u n d s , and c o n s u l t a n c y s u p p o r t are g i v e n i n Most o f t h e f u n d i n g goes f o r p r o d u c t i o n o b j e c t i v e s T a b l e 3.9. e x c e p t f o r a few i d e n t i f i e d s p e c i f i c a l l y a s r e s e a r c h .

Table 3.9 Donor

Foreign Assistance P r o j e c t s i n Progress i n 1985
I -

---

Pro j ec t--

Duration (year)
6 7 4 5 6 2 3 4 4 4 3 4 6 2

Consultancy (months 1

Donor Fund i n g*
0.51 0.60 5.50 4.50 9.00 20.00 8.00 0.74 1.90

-

WB/IDA WB/IDA WB/IDA WB/IDA WB/IDA ADB/OPEC ADB UNDP UNDP UNDP CIDA

I

USAID Switzerland
GTZ

Japan

Lower Burma Paddy Land Development P r o j e c t I Lower Burma Paddy Land Development P r o j e c t I1 BA Seed Development P r o j e c t BA Rubber R e h a b i l i t a t i o n P r o j e c t I BA Rubber R e h a b i l i t a t i o n P r o j e c t I1 Crop I n t e n s i f i c a t i o n Program I Crop I n t e n s i f i c a t i o n Program I1 Rubber R e h a b i l i t a t i o n P r o j e c t I n d u s t r i a l Crops Development P r o j e c t Seed Development P r o j e c t IRRI-Burma Cooperative Research P r o j e c t II** Maize and O i l Seed Development P r o j e c t Palm O i l Development P r o j e c t Promotion of F e r t i l i z e r and Application Whole T o w n s h i p Rice Production P r o j e c t

2

33 0 56 33 38 0 0 69 80 0 108 20 6 38 99 0

VI

.e

0.97 2.84 30.00 6.20 3 .OO 29 500.00

~

*Million i n donor's currency **Phase I covered 1979-82

55

4

I m p a c t of I A R C s on N A R S

4.1

Impact on some important crops i n Burma

The a g r i c u l t u r e r e s e a r c h departments and o t h e r a g e n c i e s under t h e AC w i t h a s s i s t a n c e from I A R C s have g r e a t l y increased t h e crop y i e l d i n Burma.
T h e b a s i c g u i d e l i n e s f o r t h e a g r i c u l t u r a l r e s e a r c h program of Burma, l a i d down by t h e Research Policy D i r e c t i o n Board a r e aimed a t t h e e v o l u t i o n of new t e c h n o l o g i e s t o i n c r e a s e u n i t a r e a production i n a l l major crops. The p r i o r i t y i s given t o food crops, w i t h major e f f o r t s on r i c e and o i l s e e d s , followed by o t h e r

c e r e a l s , i n c l u d i n g wheatt maize, sorghumt food legumest sugarcane, f i b e r cropst c o t t o n , j u t e , e t c . Rice R i c e c o n s t i t u t e s more t h a n h a l f o f t h e sown a r e a i n Burma. Many s t e p s have been taken t o i n c r e a s e crop y i e l d i n c l u d i n g d i s t r i b u t i o n of l o c a l improved seeds, f e r t i l i z e r s and p e s t i c i d e s , a s s i s t a n c e from t h e mechanization department i n s u p p l y i n g d r a f t power by t r a c t o r s , and i n c r e a s e s i n t h e p r i c e s paid f o r d e l i v e r y of paddy u n d e r monopoly purchasing systems. Despite a l l t h e s e a t t e m p t s , n a t i o n a l paddy y i e l d has increased only about 0.85 p e r c e n t annually d u r i n g t h e year 1964-65 t o 1975-76.
High y i e l d i n g v a r i e t y IR-8 seed was f i r s t introduced i n

4.1.1

1966. I n some a r e a s , IR-8 gave a y i e l d about t h r e e times t h a t of l o c a l r i c e . B u t d u e t o i t s s h o r t s t a t u r e and unacceptable p a l a t a b i l i t y , t h e acceptance by f a r m e r s was found t o be very slow.

I n 1970, t h e government placed a h i g h e r p r i o r i t y on crop improvement i n i t s FYDP. The government sought t e c h n i c a l a s s i s t a n c e from t h e United Nations Development Program (UNDP). The f i r s t p r o j e c t , UNDP/FAO P r o j e c t , BUR 72-003, t o s t r e n g t h e n

56

t h e Research I n s t i t u t e a t Yezin, m a t e r i a l i z e d .

The r i c e
\

i m p r o v e m e n t program f o r m s a m a j o r p a r t o f t h i s p r o j e c t .

was s t a r t e d and t h e release o f s e v e r a l introduced v a r i e t i e s well-adapted t o v a r i o u s local c o n d i t i o n s w a s i n i t i a t e d . The g e n e t i c p o t e n t i a l o f y i e l d i s c o n s i d e r a b l y h i g h e r t h a n t h e a v e r a g e p a d d y y i e l d . Rice v a r i e t i e s received t h r o u g h v a r i o u s I A R C s and f o r m a l l y released i n Burma a r e l i s t e d i n Table 4 . 1 .
A v a r i e t a l improvement program

An a c c e l e r a t i o n of p a d d y p r o d u c t i o n a n d y i e l d was o b t a i n e d a f t e r 1975. P r i o r t o t h a t y e a r p r o d u c t i o n had n o t exceeded 8.6

M t , by 1978-79 i t reached 10.5 a n d p a s s e d 14.0 i n 1981 and 1982. Y i e l d s had n e v e r exceeded 1.8 t / h a u n t i l 1975-76. I n 1978-79 they reached 2 . 1 t / h a a n d i n 1981 and 1982 reached 2.9 a n d 3.1 t/ha. The sown area of HYV a l s o i n c r e a s e d f r o m a b o u t 0.1 p e r c e n t in 1967-68 t o 50 p e r c e n t i n 1982-83 as shown i n T a b l e 4 . 2 .

I n a d d i t i o n t o e x o t i c H Y V s , t h e r e a r e t h r e e l o c a l , two h y b r i d s and two m u t a n t H Y V s sown i n Burma. T h e i r n a m e s and o r i g i n a r e g i v e n i n T a b l e 4.3. One i m p o r t a n t f a c t o r i n t h e increased r i c e p r o d u c t i o n i s t h e u s e of s e l e c t i v e c o n c e n t r a t i v e s t r a t e g y known a s Whole T o w n s h i p Crop P r o d u c t i o n P r o g r a m (WTCPP) w h i c h now embraces 20 major c r o p s i n c l u d i n g r i c e , maize, s o r g h u m , wheat, p o t a t o e s ? g r o u n d n u t , sesamum, c o t t o n and s u n f l o w e r . The program i n v o l v e d a p a c k a g e of improved p r o d u c t i o n practices i n c l u d i n g varieties, f e r t i l i z e r s , p e s t c o n t r o l , recommended t r a n s p l a n t i n g time? weeding, etc. The program on r i c e was s t a r t e d i n t w o t o w n s h i p s i n 1977-78 a n d i t h a s e x p a n d e d t o 82 t o w n s h i p s i n 1982-83.
Wheat The c o n s u m p t i o n of wheat i n t h e Union o f Burma h a s b e e n i n c r e a s i n g g r a d u a l l y , p a r t i c u l a r l y i n t h e form o f bakery p r o d u c t s . P r e s e n t p r o d u c t i o n i s n o t e n o u g h t o meet l o c a l
4.1.2

.

Table 4.1

Rice V a r i e t i e s Received Through Various Research I n s t i t u t i o n s and Formally Released i n Burma w i t h Local Names

Local Name

O r i g i n a l Name

Country of O r i g i n

Year of Release 1970
n
U

Sown Acreage
1984-85 362,658 156,393 4,189 1926 1,913 1,388 604 5 ,909 9,884 1,919 62,593 20,180 39,558 2,931 16,639 800 500 3 000 2,000 1,500 1,000 2,500 500

I

I

Yagyaw-2 S i Lay Sein Lay Manawhari Shwewar Hnan Lone Thwe Shwe War Shwe War Y i n Shwe War Lay Sin Shwe Thwe Sin T h e i n Gi Manaw Thukha Sin T h i r i Shwe Thwe Lay Palethwe Yenet-1 Yenet-2 Sin Kalyar Yar-1 Yar-2 Yar-3 Yar-4 Yar-5

I R-5 C4-63 C4-113 Mahsuri IR-20 IR-22 IR-24 IR-28 IR-34 BR 51-91-6 Mahsuri-M BG 90-2 I R 751-592 P e l i t a 1-1 BKN 6986-108-3 BKN 6986-167 Kulu c 22 Kn 96 Kn 117 LG 240 I R 1529-680-3

Philippines
11

W

Malaysia Philippines
W
I)

1972
fl

n
U

N

N

1978 1979
11

Bangladesh Malaysia S r i Lanka Philippines Indonesia Thailand
n

n
fl

1980
fl

1981 1982
n
n
0

Australia Philippines Indonesia
11

n
I?
II

Philippines
I1

\

T a b l e 4.2

Sown Area and P e r c e n t a g e I n c r e a s e of HYV Rice

Year
1967-68 1968-69 1969-70 1970-7 1 1971-72 1972-73 1973-74 1974-75 1975-76 1976-77 1977-78 1978-79 1979-80 1980-81 1981-82 1982-83

e -

T o t a l Area ( h a )
e

HYV ( h a )

Percentage
I C -

---

3,434 166 900 134,022 182 967 177,578 192,091 237,522 315,964 432 ,532 463,415 521,693 822 881 1,342,057 2,210,021 2,314 566 2,501,662

4,934,562 5 9019,062 4,954,745 4,975 931 1 4,977,659 4,861,961 5,089 s 104 5 ,177 ,112 5,203 s 472 5,077 s 883 5 s 135,701 5,243 445 5,026,124 5 126,546 5 103 ,274 4.8a2.283

0.10 3.30 2.70 3.67 3.60 4.00 4.70 6.10 8.30 9.10 10.15 15.69 26.70 43.10 45.35 51.23

59
T a b l e 4.3
O t h e r HYV Rice V a r i e t i e s R e l e a s e d

Ngwetoe Pho-kaw-gyi Shwe-ta-soak
demands.

136,361 65,206 1,322,842

S e i n - t a - l a y , C 4-113 Ye-baw-sein Kyaw-ze-ya, IR-5 Aungzeya Shwe-war-tun, IR-5 Mutant Shwe-thwe-tun, IR-24 Mutant

*

151,200 11,833 2,266 ,829 11,671

C o n s e q u e n t l y , u n m i l l e d w h e a t and w h e a t f l o u r have b e e n i m p o r t e d i n q u a n t i t i e s r a n g i n g up t o 20,000 t o n s a y e a r .

From 1960 o n w a r d s , t h e D e p a r t m e n t o f A g r i c u l t u r e e n c o u r a g e d w h e a t p l a n t i n g . A c c o r d i n g l y t h e wheat a r e a i n c r e a s e d y e a r a f t e r y e a r and reached a maximum d u r i n g t h e y e a r 1965-66 (165,637 ha). The n a t i o n a l a v e r a g e y i e l d h a s f l u c t u a t e d c o n s i d e r a b l y f r o m y e a r The p e r i o d f r o m 1962 t o 1983 t o y e a r d e p e n d i n g on t h e r a i n f a l l . r a n g e d b e t w e e n 381 and 1,334 kg/ha. Monywa W h i t e and Mexipak a r e t h e two main c o m m e r c i a l l y grown v a r i e t i e s . I n 1967, t h e b r e a d wheat v a r i e t y Mexipak was i n t r o d u c e d f r o m Mexico and t w o I n d i a n b r e a d w h e a t v a r i e t i e s , Kalyan Sona and S h a r b a t i S o n o r a were i n t r o d u c e d f r o m I n d i a . I n s p i t e o f i t s e a r l i n e s s , S h a r b a t i S o n o r a a c r e a g e h a s n o t increased d u e t o i t s l o w y i e l d compared t o Mexipak and K a l y a n Sona. However, some farmers preferred t o grow Kalyan Sona b u t n o t Mexipak d u e t o

60

q u a l i t y preference. The e a r l i n e s s c h a r a c t e r i s t i c of S h a r b a t i Sonora i s u s e f u l i n a r e a s when wheat p l a n t i n g i s delayed.

Almost a l l t h e e x i s t i n g v a r i e t i e s have been introduced from abroad, where t h e y have been b r e d p r i m a r i l y f o r i r r i g a t e d a g r i c u l t u r e and f o r comparatively low w i n t e r temperature and l o n g e r growing season. T h u s , i n Sagaing d i v i s i o n , where 80 p e r c e n t of t h e t o t a l wheat i s grown and t h e wheat growing season i s s h o r t and warm, i t was found t h a t t h e s e v a r i e t i e s a r e n o t q u i t e adaptable t o t h e l o c a l conditions.
I n t h e 1979-80 crop season, v a r i e t a l improvement work on wheat was c a r r i e d o u t under t h e Crop Development P r o j e c t . E i g h t commercial and experimental v a r i e t i e s of wheat obtained from I n d i a , P a k i s t a n and P h i l i p p i n e s t o g e t h e r w i t h a l a r g e number of e x o t i c germplasm were t e s t e d a t d i f f e r e n t l o c a l i t i e s , both u n d e r r a i n f e d and i r r i g a t e d t r a c t s . Most of t h e n e w v a r i e t i e s were found t o be b e t t e r than t h e e x i s t i n g c u l t i v a r s . S e v e r a l o f them had o u t y i e l d e d t h e check v a r i e t i e s a t most p l a c e s and a l l t h e new v a r i e t i e s a r e r e s i s t a n t t o l e a f r u s t d i s e a s e . T h e new v a r i e t i e s a r e a l s o s u i t a b l e f o r i n t e n s i v e crop r o t a t i o n s i n c e i n one o f t h e t r i a l s , p l a n t i n g a s l a t e a s t h e end of December a f t e r r i c e h a r v e s t g i v e s s a t i s f a c t o r y performance.

Agronomic s t u d i e s such a s seed r a t e , f e r t i l i z e r a p p l i c a t i o n , weed c o n t r o l and crop r o t a t i o n were a l s o i n i t i a t e d .

I n 1981-82, t h e AC extended i t s v a r i o u s h i g h y i e l d v a r i e t y programs t o t a k e maximum advantage o f t h e p r e v a i l i n g c o n d i t i o n s and t o minimize t h e adverse e f f e c t s of t h e c o n s t r a i n t s . A new s t r a t e g y was d e v i s e d . The Whole Township Wheat Production Program was assigned t o 1 4 townships, covering about t w o - t h i r d s of t h e country's wheat area. The r e s u l t s a r e shown i n Table 4.4. The i n c r e a s e was more than double t h e n a t i o n a l average. Although t h e e x p e r i m e n t a l y i e l d s were comparatively h i g h e r , t h e present n a t i o n a l average y i e l d l e v e l i s about 900 kg/ha. The main

61

reasons f o r low y i e l d s a r e scanty r e s i d u a l moisture d u r i n g t h e growing season and t h e inadequate t i l l a g e o p e r a t i o n r e s u l t i n g i n low population d e n s i t i e s .

Table 4.4

Whole Township HYV Wheat Producton

Year

Sown (ha)
9,081 59,615 57,818 87,675

Harvested (ha)
6,080 53,919 52,246 69,432

_ _ _ c

--

Yield (kg/ha)

Production
(kg)
I--

--

1979-80 1980-81 1981-82 1982-83

1,099 1,398 1,512 1,197

6 ,684,920 75,401,921 79,012,760 83,126,985

Maize Among t h e c e r e a l g r a i n crops, maize possesses a p o t e n t i a l f o r h i g h e s t y i e l d per u n i t of time and area. Its numerous d i v e r s i f i e d uses a s human food, animal feed and i n d u s t r i a l raw m a t e r i a l make i t a v a l u a b l e a g r i c u l t u r a l commodity.
4.1.3

The p r o d u c t i v i t y c o n s t r a i n t s a r e t h e low y i e l d i n g v a r i e t i e s , low p l a n t population, delayed t h i n n i n g of overplanted f i e l d s , i n e f f e c t i v e weed c o n t r o l and l a c k of f e r t i l i z e r use. W i t h t h e s e c o n s t r a i n t s i n v i e w , a c o n s i d e r a b l e emphasis i n government planning t o boost production of maize was c a r r i e d o u t i n 1978. The crop development program developed under UNDP/FAO a s s i s t e d p r o j e c t BUR/72/003 i n c l u d e s maize crop.
The f o l l o w i n g s t r a t e g y f o r improvement i n maize was c a r r i e d o u t by A R I :

62 V a r i e t i e s o f s h o r t t o medium m a t u r i t y f o r e a r l y and l a t e monsoon p l a n t i n g . Drought t o l e r a n t v a r i e t i e s w t h b e t t e r y i e l d i n g s t a b i l i t y f o r moisture deficit areas. V a r i e t i e s s u i t e d t o winter p l a n t i n g . Varieties s u i t e d for p l a n t i n g i n h i l l y a r e a s . S h o r t d u r a t i o n v a r i e t i e s w i t h r e l a t i v e l y s h o r t and sweet g r a i n and p r o l i f i c h a b i t f o r green c o b h a r v e s t . D e v e l o p i n g s u p e r i o r q u a l i t i e s f o r d i f f e r e n t optimum s o i l and m o i s t u r e c o n d i t i o n s .
t h e above development programs a d e q u a t e amounts o f germplasm were received f r o m T h a i l a n d , t h e P h i l i p p i n e s a n d I A R C s l i k e CIMMYT. These a r e u s e d a s s o u r c e m a t e r i a l f o r v a r i o u s characteristics. A c o n s i d e r a b l e amount o f l o c a l l y adapted germplasm was also t e s t e d f o r h i g h p o p u l a t i o n t o l e r a n c e r d r o u g h t t o l e r a n c e and e a r l y m a t u r i t y . A t p r e s e n t A R I h a s r e l e a s e d s i x H Y V s of m a i z e i n t r o d u c e d t h r o u g h I A R C s . T a b l e 4.5 s h o w s t h e o r i g i n a l names a n d l o c a l names o f t h e r e l a t e d v a r i e t i e s . Out o f t h e s i x v a r i e t i e s , Shwe-wa1 a n d 2 and I n d o n e s i a n E a r l y c o v e r 9 0 percent o f t h e HYV sown a r e a i n 1984.

A c o m p a r a t i v e s t u d y o f l o c a l a n d HYV maize s h o w s t h a t HYV p r o d u c e d o v e r 2,000 k g / h a w h e r e a s t h e l o c a l y i e l d was a b o u t 700 kg/ha. The p r o d u c t i o n o f HYV m a i z e f o r t h e y e a r s 1980-84 is p r e s e n t e d i n Table 4.6.

I n many a r e a s t h e r a i n f a l l i s i n a d e q u a t e a n d e r r a t i c a n d i s f r e q u e n t l y i n t e r r u p t e d by l o n g s p e l l s of d r o u g h t w h i c h d r a s t i c a l l y r e d u c e t h e y i e l d o f m a i z e c r o p s . I n several o f t h e o t h e r a r e a s , c o n t i n u o u s h e a v y r a i n s , p a r t i c u l a r l y i n mid- a n d l a t e - m o n s o o n s e a s o n s , r e s u l t i n p o o r g e r m i n a t i o n and c o n s i d e r a b l e e a r l y s e e d l i n g damage d u e t o f l o o d i n g , u l t i m a t e l y l e a d i n g t o a p o o r s t a n d of t h e c r o p a n d r e d u c e d y i e l d . S t r o n g w i n d s a c c o m p a n y i n g h e a v y r a i n s c a u s e l o d g i n g a n d s t a l k breakage, p r e d i s p o s i n g t h e crop t o f u r t h e r damage by r o d e n t s . Continuous

63

Table 4 . 5 Maize V a r i e t i e s Received t h r o u g h I A R C s and F o r m a l l y R e l e a s e d i n Burma w i t h L o c a l Names
~---------.C---..L.CI-CC.L-----

I _

L o c a l Name Shwe-wa Shwe-wa Shwe-wa Shwe-wa Shwe-wa Shwe-wa
1 2
3

O r i g i n a l Name La c a l e r a Petrolina Tropicana Indonesian Early TL-7322 P o p u l a t i o n 35

C o u n t r y of O r i g i n Mexico Mexico Mexico Indonesia Mexico Mexico

4 7

8

Table 4 . 6

Sown A r e a , H a r v e s t e d A r e a , Y i e l d and P r o d u c t i o n of HYV Maize

Year

Sown (ha)
24,730 31,133 38,288 44,354

Harvested (ha)
23,142 26,640 32 ,840 40 ,906

Yield

Production
(kg)

(kg/ha)
1,473 2,027 2,323 2,307

1980-81 1981-82 1982-83 1983-84

34,087,763 54,009,602 '76,304,597 94 ,380 ,807

64

wet s p e l l s sometimes make t h e p o s t - h a r v e s t d r y i n g o f e a r s a n d g r a i n s v e r y d i f f i c u l t and d e t e r i o r a t e s t h e q u a l i t y of g r a i n p a r t i c u l a r l y f o r seed.
I n p l a c e s where a g r o e c o n o m i c c o n d i t i o n s a r e q u i t e f a v o r a b l e f o r m a i z e g r o w i n g a n d t h e farmers a r e i n d u s t r i o u s , t h e y a r e w i l l i n g t o a d o p t a n y package o f t e c h n o l o g y t h a t w o u l d w a r r a n t a s u b s t a n t i a l i n c r e a s e i n t h e i r y i e l d s . However i n a r e a s of f l u t u a t i n g weather c o n d i t i o n s ? m a i z e is u s u a l l y c o n s i d e r e d t o be a h i g h r i s k c r o p when c o m p a r e d w i t h a c r o p l i k e g r o u n d n u t , a n d farmers i n these a r e a s are w i l l i n g t o a d o p t a packageof technology o n l y i f it w i l l c o n t a i n HYVs w i t h greater s t a b i l i t y of p e r f o r m a n c e a n d t h a t would i d e a l l y f i t i n t o t h e i r e x i s t i n g cropping patterns. T h u s o u t of t h e s i x HYV m a i z e v a r i e t i e s , medium, medium e a r l y , a n d e a r l y v a r i e t i e s a r e selected t o s u i t t h e v a r i o u s a g r o c l i m a t i c c o n d i t i o n s o f t h e c o u n t r y . The s p e c i f i c a t i o n s o f t h e selected maize v a r i e t i e s a r e p r e s e n t e d i n Table 4*?.

T a b l e 4,7

Maize V a r i e t i e s f o r D i f f e r e n t Agroclimatic C o n d i t i o n s

L _ _ _ _ _ _ C u _ -

Shwe-wa 2 Shwe-wa 8 Shwe-wa 4

- 95 80 - 85
90

-

e -

70

- 75

82 i n c h e s 73 i n c h e s 57 i n c h e s

40-50 i n c h e s 35-40 i n c h e s 30-35 i n c h e s

65
Seed m u l t i p l i c a t i o n a n d d i s t r i b u t i o n p r o g r a m s f o r t h e a b o v e v a r i e t i e s a r e a l r e a d y underway a n d i t was r e p o r t e d t h a t by 1986-87, most of t h e a r e a of t h e c o u n t r y u n d e r maize c u l t i v a t i o n i s i n t e n d e d t o be sown w i t h Shwe-wa 2, 8 a n d 4.

The a r e a u n d e r maize h a s g r a d u a l l y i n c r e a s e d from a b o u t 89,000 ha i n 1964-65 t o o v e r 170,000 ha i n 1982-83. P r o d u c t i o n i n c r e a s e d from 53,000 t i n 1964-65 t o 239,000 t i n 1982-83, w h i c h i s p a r t l y a t t r i b u t a b l e t o a n i n c r e a s e i n a r e a a n d p a r t l y t o HYVs.
4.1.4

Sorghum
The d r o u g h t t o l e r a n c e of sorghum makes i t s u i t a b l e f o r

i n c l u s i o n i n t h e m u l t i p l e c r o p p i n g systems, p a r t i c u l a r l y i n t h e s e m i - a r i d a n d a r i d r e g i o n s of t h e c o u n t r y . Besides, sorghum The i n t r o d u c t i o n o f HYV g r a i n h a s a good e x p o r t p o t e n t i a l . Sorghum w i t h good e a t i n g q u a l i t y h a s r e c e i v e d i n c r e a s i n g a t t e n t i o n i n t h e g o v e r n m e n t ' s a g r i c u l t u r a l d e v e l o p m e n t programs.
T w o H Y V s , IS 8965 a n d CS105 w i t h a m a t u r i t y p e r i o d of125 t o 130 d a y s , were s e l e c t e d from m a t e r i a l s r e c e i v e d from IRRI. These were f u r t h e r t e s t e d i n 1979 a n d a t t h e same time t h e i r s e e d was i n c r e a s e d . I n 1980, i m p r o v e m e n t work o n sorghum was expanded. A germplasm c o l l e c t i o n of 161 l o c a l a n d e x o t i c v a r i e t i e s o f sorghum was e v a l u a t e d f o r v a r i o u s c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s d u r i n g t h e monsoon s e a s o n . S i x h i g h y i e l d i n g e x o t i c v a r i e t i e s of R I for sorghum were d i s t r i b u t e d t o v a r i o u s t o w n s h i p s from A e x t e n s i v e on-farm t e s t s a n d d e m o n s t r a t i o n s . T h e l o c a l a n d o r i g i n a l n a m e s of t h e s i x d i s t r i b u t e d v a r i e t i e s a r e p r e s e n t e d i n T a b l e 4.8.

T h e s e e d i n c r e a s e f i e l d ofIS8965 w a s k e p t f o r r a t o o n i n g a f t e r t h e h a r v e s t of p l a n t c r o p in October 1980. Under c o n d i t i o n s of extreme m o i s t u r e stress t h e r a t o o n e d c r o p m a t u r e d No f e r t i l i z e r i n 75 t o 80 d a y s a n d y i e l d e d a b o u t 540 kg/ha. a p p l i c a t i o n o r i r r i g a t i o n was p r o v i d e d . T h i s p r a c t i c e i s w o r t h

66

adapting by farmers. It i s planned t o e v a l u a t e t h e promising v a r i e t i e s f o r ratooning a b i l i t y .
D u r i n g 1980 and 1984, a t o t a l of 28 e n t r i e s were received from I R R I and 254 e n t r i e s from ICRISAT. These v a r i e t i e s , along w i t h s e v e r a l o t h e r promising ones, were planted on a l a r g e r S c a l e f o r performance t e s t and seed increase. Evaluation o f new germplasm was a l s o c a r r i e d out a t s e v e r a l l o c a l i t i e s i n t h e country. A s a r e s u l t of e v a l u a t i o n of new germplasm, t h r e e w h i t e seed v a r i e t i e s of sorghum (M-90906, M-36248, and M=3635) w i t h

s i g n i f i c a n t l y b e t t e r e a t i n g q u a l i t y than t h e v a r i e t i e s a l r e a d y r e l e a s e d , were i d e n t i f i e d i n 1984.
T h e s e w h i t e v a r i e t i e s were reported t o b e more f a v o r a b l e f o r human consumption a s well a s f o r c a t t l e feed, s i n c e t h e s t a l k of sorghum was used f o r c a t t l e feed by t h e farmers. A comparative d a t a f o r t h e n e w w h i t e v a r i e t i e s and t h a t o f t h e r e d v a r i e t i e s , w i t h regard t o p l a n t h e i g h t , seed c o l o r and y i e l d i s presented i n T a b l e 4.9.

Although t h e y i e l d of t h e white v a r i e t i e s was about t h e same a s t h a t of t h e HYV r e d v a r i e t i e s , d u e t o i t s b e t t e r e a t i n g q u a l i t y and seed c o l o r , higher p r i c e could be obtained i n t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l market. For t h i s reason t h e c e r e a l crop d i v i s i o n o f A R I is p l a n n i n g t o r e p l a c e t h e H Y V red v a r i e t i e s o f s o r g h u m w i t h t h e white v a r i e t i e s . I n 1985-86 over 60Ot0O0 a c r e s of w h i t e sorghum a r e expected t o b e c u l t i v a t e d .
The average y i e l d o f sorghum f o r t h e whole country was The country's sown a r e a and harvested a r e a around 400 kg/ha. have remained almost c o n s t a n t a t around 180,000 and 160,000 ha r e s p e c t i v e l y , s i n c e t h e e a r l y 1960s. I n a r e a s where H Y V s were c u l t i v a t e d , a y i e l d i n c r e a s e of over 60 p e r c e n t was obtained. T h e p r o d u c t i o n and y i e l d o f t h e H Y V sown a r e a s i n Burma i s d e p i c t e d i n Table 4.10.

67

T a b l e 4.8

R e l e a s e d HYV Sorghum

L o c a l Name Shwe-ni Shwe-ni Shwe-ni Shwe-ni Shwe-ni Shwe-ni
1 2 3

O r i g i n a l Name

4 11 14

- 8965 I S - 2940 cs - 99 UPLB - SG5 CS - 105
IS
498003

T a b l e 4.9

Comparison of E x i s t i n g Red Varieties and New W h i t e Varieties of Sorghum

Original

L o c a l Name
1

H e i g h t of

Color of
Seed white white white r e d brown w h i t e brown grey

Name

Plant

Yield (bsk/ac)
40-45 40-45 40-45 40-45 40-45 40-45

M 90906 M 36248 M 36335 IS 8965

-

-

Yezin w h i t e 1 Yezin w h i t e 2 Yezin w h i t e 3
Shwe-ni 1 Shwe-ni 11 Shwe-ni 14

CS

- 105

7'5" 7'5" 7'5" 7'5" 3'5"
5'5"

498003

T a b l e 4.10

Sown Area, H a r v e s t e d A r e a , Y i e l d and P r o d u c t i o n o f HYV Sorghum
~ ~ _ _ _ ~

~

Year
1980-81 1981-82 1982-83 1983-84

Sown
15,503 15,297 27 s 034 27,792

Harvested
13,921 14,355 12,804 22 972

Y i e l d (kg/ha)

Production (kg)
9,672,558 14,461,457 10,321,350 24, 129,882

I . -

695 1,007 806 1,050

-

4.1.5

Groundnut A s u r v e y of g r o u n d n u t p r o d u c t i o n d u r i n g t h e l a s t t w o decades (1963-83) s h o w s t h a t t h e a r e a u n d e r g r o u n d n u t c u l t i v a t i o n f l u c t u a t e d f r o m 458,000 t o 690,000 ha, whereas t h e a n n u a l p r o d u c t i o n f l u c t u a t e d between 278,000 a n d 530,000 t.
A rank-correlation

s t u d y showed t h a t t h e r e was n e i t h e r a s i g n i f i c a n t u p w a r d n o r downward t r e n d i n g r o u n d n u t p r o d u c t i o n d u r i n g t h e l a s t two decades: p r o d u c t i o n h a s s t a g n a t e d a r o u n d a n a v e r a g e q u a n t i t y o f 400,000 t / y r .
1

The m a j o r g r o u n d n u t p r o d u c t i o n a r e a s a r e t h e Magwe, Mandalay and Sagaing d i v i s i o n s which c o m p r i s e 7 1 percent o f t h e t o t a l g r o u n d n u t sown area. The r e g i o n n e x t i n i m p o r t a n c e i s t h e Delta Region, r e p r e s e n t e d by t h e t h r e e d i v i s i o n s of Pegu, Rangoon and I r r a w a d d y . About 22 p e r c e n t o f t h e t o t a l g r o u n d n u t a r e a i n Burma f a l l s i n t o t h i s r e g i o n . The rest is sown in t h e h i l l y r e g i o n s o f

Burma

.

V a r i e t i e s b e l o n g i n g t o b o t h the i m p o r t a n t s u b s p e c i e s , ( S p a n i s h and V a l e n c i a ) and (Virginia) are g r o w n i n B u r m a . SP121/070, M-9, M-10 a n d H-11 a r e S p a n i s h v a r i e t i e s d e v e l o p e d a t Magwe. They m a t u r e i n a b o u t 100 d a y s i n

69

monsoon and a b o u t 1 2 0 d a y s i n t h e p o s t monsoon s e a s o n . S i n p a d a y t h a - 1 , a n e a r l y m u t a n t , was d e v e l o p e d f r o m M-10 a t A R I , Yezin. I t m a t u r e s almost a week e a r l i e r t h a n t h e p a r e n t v a r i e t y , M-10.

V a r i e t i e s b e l o n g i n g t o t h e Valencia t y p e , l o c a l l y known a s B i g J a p a n a n d S m a l l J a p a n , were i n t r o d u c e d from I n d i a . Kyaung Gon and M-30/38 r e p r e s e n t t h e V i r g i n i a t y p e i n Burma. B o t h a r e s p r e a d i n g t y p e s , t a k i n g a b o u t 1 5 0 d a y s t o m a t u r e . There is a l s o a l o c a l V i r g i n i a r u n n e r t y p e , h a v i n g a c r o p d u r a t i o n of 170 d a y s .
I m p r o v e m e n t work on g r o u n d n u t was s t a r t e d in 1980. A g e r m p l a s m c o l l e c t i o n o f a b o u t 50 v a r i e t i e s f r o m I s r a e l and 8 released v a r i e t i e s from I n d i a , was e v a l u a t e d i n small-scale p r e l i m i n a r y t e s t s and t h e f o l l o w i n g varieties, belonging t o t h e S p a n i s h a n d V a l e n c i a t y p e s , were i d e n t i f i e d a s p r o m i s i n g : L i n e 71-78, N e w Mexico V a l e n c i a , Congo V a l e n c i a , UF 79-3311, S t a r r BB, S p a n i s h No. 5 , Tamnut, NG 9-268 a n d JL-24.
The y i e l d o f a l l t h e s e v a r i e t i e s is 20 t o 4 0 p e r c e n t h i g h e r t h a n t h e l o c a l c h e c k s , M-10 a n d M-28. A d d i t i o n a l g e r m p l a s m

c o m p r i s i n g 239 s a m p l e s was o b t a i n e d f r o m ICRISAT, and h a s been p l a n t e d f o r e v a l u a t i o n . I n t h e c o u r s e of t e s t s c o n d u c t e d , 1 0 e x o t i c v a r i e t i e s , which gave h i g h e r y i e l d t h a n t h e l o c a l improved v a r i e t i e s M-10 a n d M-28, were i d e n t i f i e d . Out o f t h e s e v a r i e t i e s it was r e p o r t e d t h a t JL-24, A v i r ( f r o m I s r a e l ) and NG 9-268 ( f r o m t h e Caribbean i s l a n d s ) gave t h e h i g h e s t y i e l d s . The b e s t l o c a l v a r i e t i e s r e p o r t e d i n 1981-82 a r e SP 121/070, M-28 and PI-IO. The best e x o t i c v a r i e t i e s r e p o r t e d i n t h a t p e r i o d were A v i r , NG 9-268 a n d JL-24

.

I n t h e a r e a growing long d u r a t i o n v a r i e t i e s , s e v e r a l exotic
v a r i e t i e s o b t a i n e d from I s r a e l , U.S.A, and I n d i a , and Robut 33-1 ( w h i c h was recommended from ICRISAT a s b e i n g e x c e p t i o n a l l y h i g h y i e l d i n g ) were t e s t e d . I t was r e p o r t e d t h a t a l t h o u g h Robut 33-1 h a s - a h i g h e r y i e l d p o t e n t i a l t h a n JL-24, it needs a r e l a t i v e l y

70

h i g h p l a n t p o p u l a t i o n of m o r e t h a n 200,000 p l a n t s / h a t o g i v e i t s

h i g h e s t y i e l d and t h e d r a s t i c f a l l i n y i e l d a t l o w e r p o p u l a t i o n d e n s i t i e s shows t h a t t h i s variety lacks t h e a b i l i t y t o compensate for missing plants. Large demonstration p l o t s are arranged every y e a r a t AB1 i n o r d e r t o show t h e a g r o n o m i c i n n o v a t i o n s a n d v a r i e t a l i n t r o d u c t i o n s . The d e m o n s t r a t i o n s i n c l u d e t h e f o l l o w i n g concepts i n groundnut c u l t i v a t i o n : (11
(21

(3) (4)
(51

Summer c u l t i v a t i o n o f g r o u n d n u t . C o n c e p t o f l a n d s h a p i n g by u s i n g v a r i o u s b u l l o c k - d r a w n implements. Dryland a g r i c u l t u r a l techniques. Demonstration of m i x e d c r o p p i n g of g r o u n d n u t w i t h sesamumr maize and p i g e o n p e a , D e m o n s t r a t i o n o f p l o t o f new v a r i e t i e s , S i n p a d a y t h a - 1 (M-281, S i n p a d a y t h a - 2 (JL-241, and S i n p a d a y t h a - 3 ( R o b u t 33-11, e t c .

A v i g o r o u s v a r i e t a l screening program is c a r r i e d o u t , i n c l u d i n g a l a r g e number of l i n e s from ICRISAT.

Food l e g u m e s Food l e g u m e s form a n i m p o r t a n t c o m p o n e n t o f Burmese a g r i c u l t u r e . A n n u a l l y c u l t i v a t e d i n a n a r e a of n e a r l y 0.7 m i l l i o n ha, t h e y a c c o u n t f o r 8 p e r c e n t of t h e t o t a l c r o p p e d area. T h e i r i m p o r t a n c e a s a c h e a p s o u r c e o f p r o t e i n i n t h e h u m a n d i e t is w e l l r e c o g n i z e d and so i s t h e b e n e f i c i a l e f f e c t on t h e f e r t i l i t y of t h e s o i l on w h i c h t h e y a r e r a i s e d . I n the area generally r e c o g n i z e d a s t h e c e n t r a l d r y z o n e o f Burma, t h e a g r i c u l t u r a l l a n d s c a p e i s d o m i n a t e d by l e g u m e c u l t i v a t i o n . A n o t h e r z o n e of predominant legume c u l t i v a t i o n is t h e d e l t a a r e a o f t h e Irrawaddy River b a s i n . Besides these major a r e a s , f o o d l e g u m e s f o r m a minor component of t h e a g r i c u l t u r a l p r o d u c t i o n s y s t e m i n t h e e n t i r e country.
I

4.1.6

71

C u l t i v a t i o n of f o o d legume s i n Burma i s f o r o n e o r more o f t h e following t h r e e purposes: ( 1 ) a s t r a d i t i o n a l s t a p l e food; (2) a s a c a t c h crop i.e., i n between t w o main crops; and (3) a s a contingent crop, when o t h e r crops f a i l . The sown a r e a , t h e harvested a r e a r production a n d y i e l d of food legumes i n 1982-83 is given i n Table 4.11. Table 4.11 Sown Area, Harvested Area, Production and Y i e l d of Food Legumes, 1982-83

--I__-UII-----___IU-_--W---------------

Crops

Sown Area (ha)

Harvested Area Yield (ha) (kg/ha 1

Production (ton)

B u t t e r Bean Chickpea Soybean Green Gram Pigeonpea Garden Pea Lima Bean Lablab Bean Black Gram
Total

---

63,907 161,771 28 955 42,051 70,523 25,857 47,746 81 ,237 76 ,445 598,492

---

42 9 173 117,573 26,584 22,635 56,781 21,864 27,217 69,595 62,941

1,135 723 756 38 1 476 762 512 538 757

47 952 85,193 20,135 8,644 27,107 16,691 13,980 37,524 47,768 304,994

447 e 363

Up t o 1975, except a t t h e Regional Experimental S t a t i o n s a t

Mahlaing and Magwe, t h e o t h e r r e g i o n a l experimental s t a t i o n s d i d not undertake any major r e s e a r c h program on food legumes. The e v o l u t i o n of improved v a r i e t i e s l i k e Mahlaing F l a t of white lima bean, a n d P-11-30 of b l a c k gram a r e t h e r e s u l t s f r o m t h e s e r e g i o n a l s t a t i o n s . The A R I , i n t h e absence of a food legume d i v i s i o n , had no organized r e s e a r c h program on t h e s e crops.

72

The Food Legume D i v i s i o n a t A R I came i n t o b e i n g a f t e r 1975. I n 1978, a s t r a t e g y f o r i n c r e a s i n g f o o d l e g u m e p r o d u c t i o n i n Burma was f o r m u l a t e d . G i v e n t h e low g e n e t i c p r o d u c t i v i t y of most l o c a l v a r i e t i e s of t h e commonly grown f o o d l e g u m e s , i n c l u d i n g g r e e n a n d b l a c k gram, cowpea, p i g e o n p e a , c h i c k p e a , l i m a bean a n d mung b e a n , t h e m a i n research t h r u s t i s aimed a t i m p r o v i n g t h e germplasm base a n d c o n d u c t i n g a v i g o r o u s p r o g r a m o f h y b r i d i z a t i o n a n d s e l e c t i o n o f y i e l d and d i s e a s e / p e s t r e s i s t a n c e . Agronomic t r i a l s i n c l u d e work on o p t i m a l p l a n t p o p u l a t i o n d e n s i t i e s f o r e a r l y a n d l a t e p l a n t i n g . The Rhizobium research p r o g r a m i s c l o s e l y a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h e f o o d l e g u m e program and p r o v i d e s , t o the e x t e n t possible, a p p r o p r i a t e c u l t u r e s for inoculation trials.

,

S i n c e t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t of. t h e Food Legume D i v i s i o n , n a t i o n a l a n d i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o l l e c t i o n s of l e g u m e germplasm h a v e b e e n i n i t i a t e d . So f a r 570 a c c e s s i o n s o f f o o d l e g u m e broad based g e n e t i c m a t e r i a l s h a v e been c o l l e c t e d a n d e v a l u a t e d . A t p r e s e n t A R I i s i n c o n t a c t w i t h e i g h t i n t e r n a t i o n a l i n s t i t u t e s and t h e a c c e s s i o n s collected u p t o d a t e a r e shown i n T a b l e 4.12.
Germplasm e v a l u a t i o n a n d a d a p t a b i l i t y t e s t s o f p r o m i s i n g g e n o t y p e s a r e t h e m a i n t a s k s i n t h e b r e e d i n g p r o g r a m o f A R I . The achievement o f crop improvement up t o t h e p r e s e n t date i s g i v e n

i n Table 4.13.
4.2

Training

The c u r r e n t t o t a l s t a f f o f t h e A C is a b o u t 18,000, b u t o n l y 2,239 h o l d A g r i c u l t u r e S c i e n c e degrees. O f these, 15 h a v e a PhD, 40 h a v e a Master's degree and t h e r e s t h a v e BS ( A g r i c u l t u r e ) o r BAg d e g r e e s . Among t h e t e c h n i c a l s u p p o r t s t a f f , 2,064 h a v e a d i p l o m a i n a g r i c u l t u r e . T h u s t h e c o r e of t r a i n e d a g r i c u l t u r a l s c i e n t i s t s h o l d i n g advanced d e g r e e s , which a r e r e q u i r e d f o r a g r i c u l t u r a l d e v e l o p m e n t i n Burma, i s v e r y small.

73

Table 4.12

Accessions Collected from International Institutions

Cowpea

Lima Bean

Black Gram Pigeonpea Chickpea Soybean

(Indonesia) (Thailand) IITA IRRI AVRDC USA CIAT IITA Niftal IARI ICRISAT ICRISAT/ICARDA IRRI AVRDC INTSOY
_ L _ _

,

1 1

67

93 26

1
5 125

13 8

6 20

27 20
96

96
181 10 26 18
__e_

181

54

- - c - - I I I L I I L - C

74

T a b l e 4.13

C r o p Improvement T e s t i n g C o n d u c t e d by A R I

Specie

Variety Released
HAP-1

Original Institution
ICRISAT

Distinguishing Characteristics High y i e l d i n g w i t h e a r l y m a t u r i t y (150 d a y s ) High y i e l d i n g w i t h e a r l y maturity released for its white seed c o l o r High y i e l d i n g a n d p h o t o insensitive High y i e l d i n g a n d l a r g e seed size High y i e l d i n g a n d l a r g e seed size Released f o r its red seed c o l o r and h i g h y i e l d High y i e l d i n g w i t h e a r l y m a t u r i t y and b i g seed size. S u i t a b l e f o r b o t h mono- and m u l t i p l e cropping High y i e l d i n g a n d good for multiple cropping

Pigeonpea

BR-172

ICRISAT

B l a c k Gram

PU-19 P45-1

IARI
IARI

Cowpea

Vita 4
Red Cowpea

IITA
IRRI

Mung Bean

Bhacti

Indonesia

CES-14

IRRI

75

Many i n t e r n a t i o n a l l y a i d e d p r o j e c t s a s s i s t i n g a g r i c u l t u r e d e v e l o p m e n t r e c o g n i z e t h i s n e e d a n d u t i l i z e a b o u t 15 p e r c e n t o f t h e f u n d s f o r t r a i n i n g components. UNDP/FAO h a v e been t h e p r i m a r y d o n o r s t o d a t e , a s s i s t i n g A R I t o upgrade i t s s c i e n t i f i c c a p a c i t y a t p o s t g r a d u a t e level and t h e y a r e u r g i n g a c c e l e r a t i o n o f s u c h f e l l o w s h i p t r a i n i n g programs. The IRRI-Burma C o o p e r a t i v e P r o j e c t I1 w h i c h is t h e c u r r e n t p r o g r a m p r o v i d i n g t r a i n i n g r e s o u r c e s f o r A R I h a s programmed 24 p o s t g r a d u a t e f e l l o w s h i p s (16 M S c a n d 8 PhD l e v e l ) a n d 48 p e r s o n s for short-term t r a i n i n g courses.
The Canada-IRRI-Burma P r o j e c t I , c o m p l e t e d i n 1982, had a t r a i n i n g c o m p o n e n t f o r 15 Master's d e g r e e s , o u t o f w h i c h 12 were f o r A C a n d 3 f o r AMD. S e v e n t r a i n e e s f r o m A C a n d a l l t h r e e f r o m AMDhave r e t u r n e d , a s w e l l a s t h e 5 7 p e r s o n s who a t t e n d e d t h e short-term t r a i n i n g courses, thereby strengthening t h e i r respective departments. F i v e p o s t g r a d u a t e s t u d e n t s a r e s t i l l

under training.
The USAID-supported Maize and Oilseeds P r o d u c t i o n P r o j e c t (MOPP) t o be c o m p l e t e d i n 1986 i s p r o v i d i n g u p t o 36 advanced d e g r e e s (11 PhDs a n d 25 Master's) f o r k e y s t a f f o f t h e AC i n c l u d i n g A R I and ARD, and 70 s h o r t - t e r m t r a i n e e s . A t p r e s e n t 16 t r a i n e e s a r e u n d e r t r a i n i n g f o r t h e M a s t e r ' s degree.

A l a r g e n u m b e r o f s h o r t - t e r m t r a i n e e s were s e n t t o I R R I t o s t u d y d i f f e r e n t s u b j e c t s r e l a t e d t o rice. A l t o g e t h e r , 65 p e r s o n s p a r t i c i p a t e d i n t r a i n i n g c o u r s e s h e l d d u r i n g 1980-84. F r o m 1980 u p t o t h e e n d o f 1984 m a n y A C a g r i c u l t u r a l s c i e n t i s t s had c o m p l e t e d t h e i r t r a i n i n g a t d i f f e r e n t I A R C s . T h e s e t r a i n i n g c o u r s e s a r e s h o r t - t e r m , l a s t i n g f r o m 1 week t o 13 months.

76

t r a i n i n g c o u r s e s a t t e n d e d by t h e n a t i o n a l a g r i c u l t u r a l r e s e a r c h s c i e n t i s t s a t d i f f e r e n t I A R C s from 1980 u p t o t h e e n d of 1984 a r e l i s t e d i n Table 4.14.

Other s h o r t - t e r m

Over 40 t r a i n e e s were a l s o s e n t t o d i f f e r e n t c o u n t r i e s t o a t t e n d c o n f e r e n c e s , s y m p o s i u m s and w o r k s h o p s on s u b j e c t s r e l a t e d to agriculture.
I t c o u l d be n o t e d t h a t s h o r t - t e r m t r a i n i n g was s c h e d u l e d throughout t h e l i f e o f t h e projects a t specialized i n s t i t u t i o n s . Since t h e g o v e r n m e n t views t h i s t y p e o f p r a c t i c a l short-term t r a i n i n g a s t h e m o s t immediate r e s p o n s e t o i t s needs, t h e number of p a r t i c i p a n t s h a s been k e p t a s h i g h a s p o s s i b l e w i t h i n t h e l i m i t a t i o n s of a v a i l a b l e f u n d s .

4.3

R e l a t i o n s between n a t i o n a l r e s e a r c h centers and C G I A R supported c e n t e r s and o t h e r o r g a n i z a t i o n s

The AC h a s a c t i v e c o o p e r a t i o n w i t h I R R I , CIMMYT, ICRISAT, CIP, I I T A , C I A T and IBPGR. From t h e s e i n t e r n a t i o n a l c e n t e r s , Burma r e c e i v e s g e n e t i c m a t e r i a l s , t r a i n i n g f e l l o w s h i p s a n d o p p o r t u n i t i e s t o e s t a b l i s h c o n t a c t w i t h r e s e a r c h e r s and s c i e n t i s t s i n o t h e r c o u n t r i e s f o r c o n t i n u o u s e x c h a n g e of ideas. P u b l i c a t i o n s from m o s t of t h e s e c e n t e r s were a l s o s e n t t o t h e

n a t i o n a l research i n s t i t u t e s .

IRRI:
Rice c o n s t i t u t e s more t h a n h a l f t h e sown a r e a i n Burma, a n d h a l f o f t h e a r e a u n d e r r i c e is now g r o w n w i t h HYVs. T h u s i t was f o u n d t h a t o f a l l t h e r e l a t e d I A R C s , A R I a n d ARD a r e most i n t e n s i v e l y l i n k e d w i t h I R R I i n t h e P h i l i p p i n e s . Burma's f i r s t i m p r o v e d v a r i e t y , IR-8, was o b t a i n e d f r o m I R R I i n 1966. Some HYVs i n t r o d u c e d i n t o Burma t h r o u g h I R R I i n c l u d e : Mashure, IR-5, C4-63 a n d BR 51-91-6.

77 Table 4.14 Short-Term Training Courses Provided by IARCs from 1980 to 1984
_ _ . _ w 1

Training Course
-I__

----------

IARC CIMMYTCIMMYT

Country Mexico Mexico Mexico Mexico Bangladesh and Thailand

Duration
13 months

Number o f Trainees
1

I _ c -

Wheat Breeding/Agronomy Maize Breeding

7 months

1

Rainfed Wheat Production CIMMYT Maize Crop Training Rice Wheat Cooperative Study Tour Collection and Conservation of Perennial Crops Meeting o f Liaison Officers for the South Asian Regions Fertilizer Management and Logistics Agricultural Meteorological Observation Sesamum/Agronomy International Groundnut Workshop Chickpea Scientist Meeting Seed Potato Production Third Regional Potato Symposium Workshop on Optimizing Potato Productivity in the Farmer's Field CIMMYT

6 months
5 months

1
1

1 . 5 months

2

IBPGR

Thailand

1 month

1

IBPGR ICRISAT ICRISAT IC RISAT ICRISAT ICRISAT CIP CIP

Nepal India India India India India Australia Indonesia

6 days
1 month
5.5 months

1
2 2
1 1
2

6 months
10 days 10 days 3 months
10 days

1
1

CIP

Philippines 15 days

1

78
Through t h e b r e e d i n g program, t h e h i g h y i e l d i n g c a p a b i l i t i e s o f some I R R I v a r i e t i e s have been c r o s s e d w i t h n a t i v e v a r i e t i e s f r o m w h i c h h i g h y i e l d i n g good q u a l i t y v a r i e t i e s o f r i c e a d a p t a b l e t o v a r i o u s e c o l o g i c a l c o n d i t i o n s o f Burma h a v e b e e n o b t a i n e d . I R R I a l s o p r o v i d e s v a l u a b l e a s s i s t a n c e i n t r a i n i n g . The I R R I Burma C o o p e r a t i v e Research P r o j e c t was u t i l i z e d f o r f o r e i g n c o n s u l t a n t s (25 p e r c e n t ) , t r a i n i n g ( 3 4 p e r c e n t ) , e q u i p m e n t (25 p e r c e n t ) and o t h e r s u p p o r t .
Under d i f f e r e n t i n t e r n a t i o n a l l y a i d e d p r o j e c t s , a n I R R I r i c e breeder a n d a n a g r o n o m i s t have been c o n t i n u o u s l y w o r k i n g w i t h A R I f o r a b o u t 10 y e a r s .
(;IMMYT

Maize i s t h e s e c o n d m o s t i m p o r t a n t c e r e a l c r o p i n Burma. T h e s o w n a r e a i s a b o u t 1 7 0 ? 0 0 0 h a o f w h i c h 80 p e r c e n t i s m a t u r e d f o r g r a i n , w i t h a p r o d u c t i o n o f a r o u n d 200,000 t , w h i l e t h e r e m a i n i n g i s p i c k e d a s g r e e n cobs f o r human c o n s u m p t i o n . The a v e r a g e y i e l d o f m a i z e s e e d p r i o r t o 1 9 7 9 was only a b o u t 7 0 0 kg/ha. I n 1980, H Y V s o f m a i z e were i n t r o d u c e d f r o m C I M M Y T a n d I n d o n e s i a . A 50 p e r c e n t i n c r e a s e i n t h e n a t i o n a l y i e l d was a t t a i n e d . The f o u r v a r i e t i e s of m a i z e now w i d e l y c u l t i v a t e d i n Burma a r e : ( 1 ) L a c a l e r a , (2) P e t r o l i n a , ( 3 ) T r o p i c a n a , a n d (4) Indonesian Early.
The f i r s t t h r e e v a r i e t i e s o f maize were received f r o m CIMMYT. H Y V s o f w h e a t were a l s o i n t r o d u c e d . T h e i n t r o d u c t i o n of new wheat v a r i e t i e s had i n c r e a s e d t h e a v e r a g e y i e l d from a b o u t 700 k g / h a i n 1975-76 t o 1,100 k g / h a i n 1980-81.

ICRISAT
E x t e n s i v e research experiments a r e i n hand w i t h H Y V s o f sorghum, p e a r l m i l l e t , c h i c k p e a s , pigeonpeas and groundnut m a t e r i a l s r e c e i v e d f r o m I C R I S A T . The H Y V s o f sorghum IS-8965 and IS-2940 r e c e i v e d f r o m t h i s center t h r o u g h I R R I a r e t h e most p o p u l a r v a r i e t i e s w i t h Burmese f a r m e r s .

79

w
Up t o 1967 t h e a v e r a g e y i e l d o f p o t a t o e s was o n l y a b o u t 3,000 kg/ha. S t e p s h a v e b e e n t a k e n t o i n c r e a s e t h e y i e l d by u s i n g f e r t i l i z e r and improved c u l t u r a l methods together w i t h t h e g e r m i n a t i o n t e c h n i q u e s r e c e i v e d from CIP. The a v e r a g e y i e l d was i n c r e a s e d t o a b o u t 10,000 k g / h a a n d i n some a r e a s 12,000 kg/ha

was a c h i e v e d . An e x c h a n g e of r e s e a r c h s c i e n t i s t s was a l s o c a r r i e d o u t w i t h CIP. G e n e t i c m a t e r i a l s f o r H Y V s t h a t were introduced are s t i l l i n t h e experimental stage.

LuA
I n d i g e n o u s v a r i e t i e s of f o o d l e g u m e s h a v e v e r y low p o t e n t i a l i n t h e i r e c o n o m i c y i e l d , a n d t h e i r low g e n e t i c v a r i a b i l i t y becomes a drawback f o r h y b r i d i z a t i o n . T h u s e x o t i c v a r i e t i e s were i n t r o d u c e d f o r c r o p i m p r o v e m e n t . IITA i n t r o d u c e d 93 l i n e s of c o w p e a a n d 8 l i n e s o f l i m a b e a n t o B u r m a . An e x c h a n g e o f research s c i e n t i s t s was a l s o a c h i e v e d .

w
I m p r o v e d seeds f o r b u t t e r b e a n , f o d d e r l e g u m e s a n d g r a s s seeds were received f r o m t h i s c e n t e r f o r t h e n a t i o n a l c r o p improvement program.

IBPGR
R e g u l a r p u b l i c a t i o n s on a g r i c u l t u r a l research a r e p r o v i d e d .
Up t o t h e p r e s e n t p e r i o d t h e major s u p p o r t f o r a g r i c u l t u r a l research h a s b e e n r e c e i v e d from UNDP t h r o u g h F A 0 e x e c u t e d

p r o j e c t s . U S A I D i s s u p p o r t i n g t h e MOPP w i t h c o m p o n e n t s o n t r a i n i n g a n d research. The World Bank, I A E A , C I D A ( C a n a d a ) , ADB, OPEC, J I C A , D A N I D A a n d GTZ a l s o s u p p o r t f u n d s f o r v a r i o u s p r o j e c t s c o n c e r n i n g a g r i c u l t u r a l research.

81 5 5.1

Research Impact o n A g r i c u l t u r a l P r o d u c t i o n

Important innovations

The D e p a r t m e n t of A g r i c u l t u r e was e s t a b l i s h e d i n 1901 w i t h i t s research, e x t e n s i o n a n d m a r k e t i n g s e c t i o n s . The research s e c t i o n i s r e s p o n s i b l e f o r t h e a g r i c u l t u r a l research a c t i v i t i e s t o g e t h e r w i t h c e r t a i n t r a i n i n g f a c i l i t i e s . The f i r s t t r a i n i n g i n s t i t u t e was a d i p l o m a s c h o o l a t Mandalay f o u n d e d i n 1924. I t had a n a v e r a g e a n n u a l i n t a k e of 20 s t u d e n t s . I n 1938 t h e Mandalay College, u n d e r t h e j u r i s d i c t i o n of Rangoon U n i v e r s i t y , offered a bachelor d e g r e e i n a g r i c u l t u r e w i t h a n a v e r a g e a n n u a l o u t p u t of 20 g r a d u a t e s . The f i r s t c e n t r a l farm was e s t a b l i s h e d i n 1906 a t Hmawbi a n d by 1929, 18 a g r i c u l t u r a l farms had b e e n e s t a b l i s h e d . T h e s e farms, t h e year of t h e i r e s t a b l i s h m e n t a n d t h e i r s p e c i a l i z a t i o n is g i v e n i n T a b l e 5.1. D u r i n g t h e Second World War, r e s e a r c h f a c i l i t i e s a t t h e C e n t r a l E x p e r i m e n t a l S t a t i o n s were d e s t r o y e d . The b r e e d i n g l i n e s of d i f f e r e n t c r o p s were a l s o l o s t , so t h a t t h e r e s e a r c h a c t i v i t i e s resumed a f t e r t h e war were i n i t i a l i n n a t u r e . The research programs were m a i n l y l a i d down o n b r e e d i n g of c r o p s w i t h a few e x p e r i m e n t s o n c r o p h u s b a n d r y p r a c t i c e s .
I

Up t o 1956, t h e r e was n o s e p a r a t e Research I n s t i t u t e w i t h s p e c i a l i z e d d i v i s i o n s i n it. The C h i e f Research O f f i c e r ( C R O ) was r e s p o n s i b l e f o r a l l t h e a g r i c u l t u r e research a c t i v i t i e s . T h e C e n t r a l F a r m s a n d t h e major a n d m i n o r seed f a r m s a l l o v e r t h e c o u n t r y were u n d e r t h e A g r i c u l t u r e D e p a r t m e n t . M o r e o v e r , t h e

C e n t r a l F a r m s were n o t w e l l e q u i p p e d a n d s t a f f e d . They were e s t a b l i s h e d w i t h t h e m a i n o b j e c t t h a t a d a p t i v e research c o u l d b e c a r r i e d o u t i n a r e p r e s e n t a t i v e area. E x p e r i m e n t s f o r f e r t i l i z e r recommendation, v a r i e t a l t e s t i n g , c u l t u r a l p r a c t i c e s , p l a n t b r e e d i n g a n d p l a n t i n t r o d u c t i o n were c a r r i e d o u t . Some a c h i e v e m e n t s were t h e i n t r o d u c t i o n of new v a r i e t i e s of r i c e , s u g a r c a n e r g r o u n d n u t a n d c o t t o n b r e d on t h e s e c e n t r a l farms.

82

I n 1965, A R I , w i t h i t s f i v e d i s c i p l i n a r y d i v i s i o n s , was e s t a b l i s h e d a t Gyogon n e a r Rangoon. However d u e t o l a c k of s k i l l e d p e r s o n n e l a n d e q u i p m e n t , t h e research a c t i v i t i e s b e i n g undertaken could n o t i n f l u e n c e the a g r i c u l t u r a l development p l a n a t t h a t time.
A R I , e q u i p p e d w i t h p r o f e s s i o n a l r e s e a r c h workers a n d l a b o r a t o r y f a c i l i t i e s was s u p p o s e d t o d e v e l o p new t e c h n o l o g y s u i t a b l e f o r v a r i o u s a g r o e c o l o g i c a l c o n d i t i o n s of t h e c o u n t r y . I n t u r n , t h e c e n t r a l f a r m s were i n t e n d e d t o t r y o u t t h e a d a p t a b i l i t y of s u c h t e c h n o l o g i e s f o r p a r t i c u l a r r e g i o n s . H o w e v e r a s t h e ARI a n d t h e c e n t r a l f a r m s , i n s p i t e o f b e i n g u n d e r o n e o r g a n i z a t i o n , were a d m i n i s t e r e d by d i f f e r e n t h e a d s , c o o r d i n a t i o n was weak. T h i s c a u s e d d i s r u p t i o n t o t h e i n t e n d e d a p p r o a c h a n d was i n n o way c o m p l i m e n t a r y t o t h e a g r i c u l t u r a l development plan. S i m i l a r l y , c o o r d i n a t i o n between A R I and I A , w h i c h i s u n d e r t h e M i n i s t r y of E d u c a t i o n , was a l s o n o t w e l l d e f i n e d . N e v e r t h e l e s s , t h e n e e d f o r i n c r e a s i n g t h e number of c e n t r a l r e s e a r c h farms a n d seed m u l t i p l i c a t i o n f a r m s was r e c o g n i z e d , a n d a t p r e s e n t 20 c e n t r a l r e s e a r c h farms a n d 20 major seed farms h a v e b e e n e s t a b l i s h e d a l l o v e r t h e c o u n t r y .

I n 1966, t h e Research P o l i c y D i r e c t i o n Board was formed by t h e Government and t h e board gave d i r e c t i o n f o r e l e v e n s e p a r a t e p r o f e s s i o n s . Under t h e board's p o l i c y , t h e a g r i c u l t u r a l s c i e n c e s c o m m i t t e e a d a p t e d l o n g - t e r m a n d short-term r e s e a r c h p r o g r a m s w i t h g r e a t e r e m p h a s i s o n t h e c r o p s t h a t were o f e c o n o m i c i m p o r t a n c e t o t h e country. Meanwhile, t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s s u c h a s t h e UNDP, FAO, C I D A a n d I A E A a i d e d A R I w i t h n e c e s s a r y e q u i p m e n t , e x p e r t s a n d t r a i n i n g f o r t h e n a t i o n a l s t a f f i n t h e form o f t e c h n i c a l a s s i s t a n c e . Due t o s u c h e n c o u r a g e m e n t , research a c t i v i t i e s e x p a n d e d , g r a d u a l l y p r o d u c i n g research r e s u l t s a p p l i c a b l e t o Burmese a g r i c u l t u r e .

83
Table 5 . 1 A g r i c u l t u r e Farms and T h e i r S p e c i a l i z a t i o n s

Name Hmawbi Mandalay Tatkon Mahlaing Aunglan Akyab Sagaing Paukkaung Magwe Pyinmana Padu Kyemon P w i n t byu Kyauk pyu Myaungmya Mudon Kanbalu Year Opened Farm Acreage
c

Major Crops
Rice Rice Oilcrop, Maize Cotton Oilcrop, Cotton Rice Tobacco Sericulture Oilcrop, P u l s e s Sugarcane Wheat Pulses Rice Rice Rice Rice Rice, Maize

--1906 1907 1914 1920 1921 1923 1924 1925 1925 1925 1925 1925 1925 1925 1926 1926 1928

454 431
120 251

145 79
10

12.5

200
75 105

300 160 05 86 206 530
-

A t p r e s e n t , two main a g r l p u l t u r a l r e s e a r c h i n s t i t u t i o n s e x i s t , t h e A B 1 and ARD. Both of t h e s e o r g a n i z a t i o n s a r e headed by t h e i r own g e n e r a l managers. The A R I i s t o undertake t h e b a s i c r e s e a r c h problems and ARD to handle a p p l i e d r e s e a r c h work.

T h e r e a r e 1 3 m a j o r d i v i s i o n s i n A R I and t h e A R D c o n s i s t s o f 3 major d i v i s i o n s . T h e f a c i l i t i e s of ARD i n c l u d e 20 c e n t r a l farms and 20 seed farms. Both of t h e s e i n s t i t u t i o n s a r e involved i n executing some foreign-aided a g r i c u l t u r a l r e s e a r c h p r o j e c t s besides t h e i r normal functions.

The r e s e a r c h a c t i v i t i e s now being c a r r i e d out a r e crop o r i e n t e d r a t h e r than d i s c i p l i n a r y i n nature. More a t t e n t i o n i s b e i n g d i r e c t e d t o t h e s o l u t i o n of f i e l d problems. The impact has been on t h e p r a c t i c a l a s p e c t of crop production. The r e s e a r c h f r e q u e n t l y proceeded t o t h e g r a s s r o o t level and sought o u t a g r i c u l t u r a l problems. They a l s o obtained b e t t e r c o o r d i n a t i o n and cooperation from o t h e r d i v i s i o n s s u c h a s Extension and Planning. Accordingly, r e s e a r c h managed t o keep a b r e a s t of t h e n a t i o n a l crop development p l a n s and g u i d e l i n e s .
The f a c i l i t i e s a s well a s a c t i v i t i e s of t h e a g r i c u l t u r a l r e s e a r c h developed considerably. Moreover, t h e t r a n s f e r of

technology from r e s e a r c h t o f a r m e r s was smooth because f a r m e r s had f u l l confidence and were impressed w i t h r e s e a r c h f i n d i n g s . As a r e s u l t , t h e a g r i c u l t u r e r e s e a r c h c o n t r i b u t i o n p r o j e c t e d a n o t i c e a b l e impact on crop production.
The new v a r i e t i e s of important c r o p s developed and released by t h e r e s e a r c h i n s t i t u t e s are: 29 v a r i e t i e s of r i c e , 6 v a r i e t i e s of sorghum, 6 v a r i e t i e s of maize, 5 v a r i e t i e s of groundnut, 5 v a r i e t i e s of wheat, 7 v a r i e t i e s of c o t t o n , 6 v a r i e t i e s of j u t e , 8 v a r i e t i e s of p u l s e s , 2 v a r i e t i e s of sugarcane, 2 v a r i e t i e s of sunflower and 1 v a r i e t y of sesamum. The d i s t r i b u t i o n of q u a l i t y s e e d s a l s o became more compreh e n s i v e . The y e a r l y d i s t r i b u t i o n is g i v e n i n Table 5 . 2 .

5.2

Adoption of i n n o v a t i o n s

The t r a n s m i s s i o n mechanism of i n n o v a t i o n s t a k e s p l a c e mainly Under t h e c o n t r o l of through t h e E x t e n s i o n Division of t h e AC. t h e General Manager, t h e Extension Division i s organized on a s t a t e / d i v i s i o n a l b a s i s , w i t h o f f i c e s a t township, v i l l a g e t r a c t

and v i l l a g e l e v e l . F i e l d s u p e r v i s i n g s t a f f a r e t h e V i l l a g e Extension Managers, who a r e i n charge of a v i l l a g e w i t h 1,2002,400 ha of c u l t i v a t e d land depending on t h e l o c a l i t y and s t a t e

Table 5.2

Distribution of Quality Seeds of Principal Crops

Crop

Unit
bsk

1974-75 930,670 11,177 11,723 20 081 5,028

1975-76 543,940 16,676 3,604 3,073 3,361

1976-77 191,996 636 2,291 1,409 2,419

1977-78 260,722 1,134 2 s 473 389 18,276

1978-79 445,426 1,282 5,809 683 22,897

1979-80 659,408 1,531 10,928 26,816 15,508

1980-81 1,669,322 3,163 3,394 133,717 3,915

Paddy Wheat

bsk

Maize Seed bsk Groundnut bsk Sunflower bsk
Long Staple Cotton

v i s s 3,431,690

2,641,545

1,826,079

2,288,250

2,184,912

2,570,898

1,093,776

Mahlaing
5/6

Cotton

v i s s 1,218,480

2,325,195

386,565 14,000
2, 835

389,827 10,700 6,757 384,400 743 17,556 4,150

592,875

417,394 1,901 2,443 80,000 75 12,502 15,500

1,363,318

I

WagYi

Cotton

viss
bsk

7,879

4,260
150,000 2, 350 266 , 656 60 r 000

6,681 189,631 270 17,004 6,324

940 163,000

Jute
Rubber

Sapling Budwood

ea ea

88 9 993 23,400

124,016 644 24,616
2, 404

--

Sugarcane ton
Coffee

10,206 109,385

plant

86

o f c o m m u n i c a t i o n . A v i l l a g e t r a c t m a n a g e r s u p e r v i s e s t h e work o f about 10 v i l l a g e e x t e n s i o n managers, each o f whom work d i r e c t l y w i t h a b o u t 1,000 farmers. I t i s c u r r e n t l y p l a n n e d t o i m p r o v e upon t h e r a t i o o f t h e number o f farmers t o e x t e n s i o n w o r k e r s t o o n e v i l l a g e e x t e n s i o n m a n a g e r f o r 500 farmers by 1985. The o r g a n i z a t i o n a l s t r u c t u r e a n d number of s t a f f i n each l e v e l o f t h e E x t e n s i o n D i v i s i o n i s g i v e n i n T a b l e 5.3.
The r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s o f t h i s d i v i s i o n a r e t o : disseminate a g r i c u l t u r a l research findings; implement t h e annual a g r i c u l t u r a l p l a n ; d i s t r i b u t e e s s e n t i a l s u p p l i e s t o farmers and a s s i s t i n

p r o c u r e m e n t o f t h e s e i n p u t s ; d i s t r i b u t e p u r e seeds i n c o o r d i n a t i o n w i t h t h e c e n t r a l farms; a n d h e l p t o c o o r d i n a t e t h e a g r i c u l t u r a l a c t i v i t i e s w i t h t h e v i l l a g e c o u n c i l and t o w n s h i p councils. To a c c o m p l i s h t h e s e many d u t i e s , t h e General Manager o f E x t e n s i o n i s a s s i s t e d by Deputy General M a n a g e r s ; 1 4 s t a t e o r d i v i s i o n a l managers a t t h e t o w n s h i p l e v e l ; 426 v i l l a g e t r a c t a n d 4,040 v i l l a g e m a n a g e r s a t t h e v i l l a g e l e v e l . More t r a i n e d p e r s o n n e l were employed down t o t h e v i l l a g e l e v e l , a n d t h e s e r v i c e s o f t h e e x t e n s i o n w o r k e r s came t o b e r e c o g n i z e d and accepted by t h e f a r m e r s . The r o l e o f v i l l a g e m a n a g e r i s most p i v o t a l i n t r a n s f e r r i n g t h e n e w t e c h n o l o g i e s o r executing t h e a g r i c u l t u r a l development plans, as they are t h e l i n k w i t h t h e g r a s s r o o t l e v e l . The v i l l a g e m a n a g e r s r e c r u i t e d a n n u a l l y were r e c e n t g r a d u a t e s f r o m A g r i c u l t u r e High S c h o o l , D i p l o m a I n s t i t u t e s a n d t h e I A . T h e y a r e young, a c t i v e a n d well t r a i n e d . Moreover, there i s f u l l governmental s u p p o r t and l e a d e r s h p t o t h e e x t e n s i o n s t a f f members. P r e v i o u s l y , many a g r i c u l t u r e e x t e n s i o n s t r a t e g i e s had been i n t r o d u c e d i n Burma f o r i m p l e m e n t i n g t h e c r o p p r o d u c t i o n programs. The a p p r o a c h e s , however, were n o t a p p r o p r i a t e f o r Burmese c o n d i t i o n s . S u b s e q u e n t l y a s t r a t e g y t h a t would t a k e

T a b l e 5.3

O r g a n i z a t i o n C h a r t and Number o f S t a f f i n Each Level of E x t e n s i o n D i v i s i o n G e n e r a l Manager (Extension)
Dy. G e n e r a l Manager (2nd i n Chief)

Dy. G e n e r a l Manager Dy. G e n e r a l Manager Dy. General1 Manager ( S e a s o n a l Crop) ( E x t e n s i o n and E d u c a t i o n ) ( I n d u s t r i a l Crop)

I

1

t

S t a t e / D i v i s i o n a l Managers Dy. S t a t e / D i v i s i o n a l Managers Asst. S t a t e / D i v i s i o n a l Managers Dy. Township Managers ( P e s t C o n t r o l ) )ownship Managers (Farm Managers

I

1
II

I
I I

h

Dy. Township Managers

. Farm Managers

T r a c t Managers V i l l a g e T r a c t Managers ( F a r m ) V i l l a g e T r a c t Managers (Pest C o n t r o l )

I

Managers V i l l a g e Managers ( F a r m ) V i l l a g e Managers (Pest C o n t r o l ) V i l l a g e Managers (Special Projects)

88

maximum advantage of Burmese c o n d i t i o n s was designed and t h a t s t r a t e g y was proved s u i t a b l e . The essence of t h e s t r a t e g y was s e l e c t i v e c o n c e n t r a t i o n . I t c o n s i s t e d of f i v e components: ( 1 ) a c o r r e c t and proven technology; (2) p o l i t i c a l w i l l and p o l i t i c a l guidance; ( 3 ) s e l e c t i v i t y and c o n c e n t r a t i o n ; (4) mass p a r t i c i p a t i o n ; and ( 5 ) emulation and competition.
The s t r a t e g y was p u t i n t o e f f e c t f o r t h e program and was found t o perform well under Burmese c o n d i t i o n s . The n a t i o n a l r i c e production increased t o 23 percent without any c o n s i d e r a b l e chknges of t h e sown area. The program was expanded t o o t h e r c r o p s and t h e achievements t h e r e were a l s o v e r y s a t i s f a c t o r y .

The extension s t a f f of t h e v i l l a g e t r a c t s a c t u a l l y l i v e i n t h e production camps i n proximity t o t h e farmers' f i e l d s . Thereby t h e y have c l o s e c o n t a c t w i t h t h e f a r m e r s and a r e i n a p o s i t i o n t o monitor t h e c u l t i v a t i o n process and a t t h e same t i m e p i n p o i n t t h e impact p o i n t s of t h e crop production technology.
To support t h e e x t e n s i o n s t r a t e g y , t h e P a r t y , Council and S t a t e agencies provided p o l i t i c a l l e a d e r s h i p t o a l l l e v e l s of t h e a g r i c u l t u r a l extension organization. The f o u r important committees a r e ( 1 ) A g r i c u l t u r a l Management Committee, (2) C u l t i v a t i o n A c t i v i t y Committee, ( 3 ) Procurement and D i s t r i b u t i o n of I n p u t Committee and (4) Disease and Pest Control Committee.

These committees were known a s a g r i c u l t u r a l management committees. I n these committees u s u a l l y people's c o u n c i l members s e r v e a s t h e c h a i r p e r s o n s w h i l e a g r i c u l t u r e e x t e n s i o n workers a c t a s s e c r e t a r i e s . The s t r a t e g y has now been e s t a b l i s h e d a s t h e "Extension S t r a t e g y " and h a s r e s u l t e d i n h e a l t h y c o l l a b o r a t i o n and cooperation among t h e departments and c o r p o r a t i o n s connected w i t h a g r i c u l t u r e . The t r a n s f e r o f technology i s shown i n F i g u r e 5.1.

89

Figure 5.1

Technology Flow

TechnologyProblems

----

91

6 6.1

C o n c l u s i o n s and S u g g e s t i o n s

A g r i c u l t u r e sector

I n c r e a s i n g a g r i c u l t u r a l o u t p u t d e p e n d s upon e i t h e r increasi n g t h e o u t p u t of e x i s t i n g farms o r e x p a n s i o n of c u l t i v a t e d area. O f f i c i a l d a t a i n d i c a t e t h a t t h e r e a r e 21.1 m i l l i o n acres of c u l t i v a b l e w a s t e l a n d . However, e v e n w i t h o u t b r i n g i n g a d d i t i o n a l l a n d i n t o c u l t i v a t i o n , a g r i c u l t u r a l o u t p u t c a n be i n c r e a s e d by i n c r e a s e d y i e l d s of c r o p s a n d by i n t e n s i f y i n g l a n d u s e t h r o u g h m i n o r i r r i g a t i o n d e v e l o p m e n t . Burma h a s v a s t i r r i g a t i o n p o t e n t i a l b u t i r r i g a t e d a r e a comprises o n l y a b o u t 13 p e r c e n t o f t h e t o t a l a r e a s o w n t o a g r i c u l t u r a l c r o p s , a n d i t was f o u n d t h a t o n l y 12.5 p e r c e n t of t h e i r r i g a t e d a r e a i s d o u b l e c r o p p e d . F o r paddy, t h e p r i n c i p a l m o n s o o n a l crop, i m p r o v e d i n p u t d i s t r i b u t i o n a n d farm i n c e n t i v e s c o u l d l e a d t o a n i n c r e a s e i n y i e l d per acre. I n a d d i t i o n , i m p r o v e d m a r k e t i n g , i n c l u d i n g p r o c e s s i n g , s t o r a g e a n d t r a n s p o r t a t i o n , c o u l d f u r t h e r i n c r e a s e t h e s u p p l y of food g r a i n s . I n d r y s e a s o n a n d a l s o f o r 12 m o n t h s o f t h e y e a r i n t h e d r y z o n e , s c a r c i t y of water I s a major c o n s t r a i n t t o i n c r e a s i n g crop p r o d u c t i o n . D e v e l o p m e n t of a d e q u a t e water s u p p l y p l u s p r o p e r water c o n t r o l and management would s t i m u l a t e p r o d u c t i o n a n d r e l a t i v e l y h i g h y i e l d i n g c r o p s i n a r e a s a n d s e a s o n s where t h e y i e l d s a r e low a n d where c r o p s a r e n o t grown f o r much o f t h e year. Burma h a s t h e r e s o u r c e s t o d e v e l o p m i n o r i r r i g a t i o n f a c i l i t i e s for large areas. T h e r e a r e many c a u s e s o f a s t a g n a t i o n i n y i e l d s a n d p r o d u c t i o n a n d some a r e i n t e r r e l a t e d . T h e s e c o n s t r a i n t s a r e :
(1)

I n a d e q u a t e e c o n o m i c i n c e n t i v e s f o r farmers t o u s e more purchased inputs,

92 D i f f i c u l t i e s i n f i n a n c i n g p u r c h a s e d i n p u t s a n d l o n g e r term i n v e s t m e n t s by farmers b e c a u s e of i n a d e q u a t e c r e d i t facilities, Low u t i l i z a t i o n o f i r r i g a t i o n r e s o u r c e s w h i c h c o u l d b e used t o improve t h e a g r o c l i m a t i c environment, Inadequate marketing arrangements, including processing, s t o r a g e and t r a n s p o r t a t i o n , so t h a t f u l l p o t e n t i a l f o r f o o d s u p p l i e s a r e n o t o b t a i n e d from c r o p i n p u t s , S h o r t a g e o f d r a f t power f o r p r e p a r a t i o n of l a n d , e s p e c i a l l y for m u l t i p l e cropping.

Sunnestians
Price .

P

u I t was n o t e d t h a t p r o c u r e m e n t p r i c e s a r e v e r y

.

c l o s e t o t h e i r c o s t of p r o d u c t i o n . Therefore i t c o u l d be s u g g e s t e d t h a t a s t a t i s t i c a l l y a c c e p t a b l e s a m p l e s u r v e y of c o s t o f p r o d u c t i o n f o r farms s h o u l d be s t r a t i f i e d t o c o v e r t h e c r o p s w h i c h a r e t o b e p u r c h a s e d by t h e g o v e r n m e n t i n t h e f o l l o w i n g y e a r . The s a m p l e s h o u l d b e f u r t h e r s t r a t i f i e d f o r each c r o p by a g r o c l i m a t i c r e g i o n a n d by s e a s o n of p r o d u c t i o n . The monopoly p u r c h a s e p r i c e s h o u l d t h e n be s e t t o c o v e r t h e c o s t of p r o d u c t i o n a s w e l l a s t o l e a v e some r e w a r d f o r t h e f a r m e r s so a s t o i n c r e a s e t h e i r i n c e n t i v e s t o p a r t i c i p a t e i n t h e programs.

.-erC Farmers have l i m i t e d f i n a n c i a l r e s o u r c e s a n d h a v e access t o l i m i t e d i n s t i t u t i o n a l c r e d i t , i n c l u d i n g a d v a n c e p u r c h a s e by AFPTC. The i n d i v i d u a l farmer's a b i l i t y t o a d o p t i m p r o v e d t e c h - n o l o g y a n d i n c r e a s e y i e l d s i s l i m i t e d by these f i n a n c i a l con-straints. Medium-term c r e d i t f o r f i n a n c i n g on-farm i m p r o v e m e n t s i s scarce. If p e a s a n t s i n t h e c e n t r a l c o r e a r e expected t o i n v e s t i n s u c h i m p r o v e m e n t s , i t c o u l d b e s u g g e s t e d t h a t means f o r p r o v i d i n g s u c h c r e d i t s s h o u l d be c o n s i d e r e d .

5 Be . t w e e n 1 9 6 2 a n d 1980, t h e i r r i g a t i o n
d e p a r t m e n t c o m p l e t e d 8 major p r o j e c t s w i t h a t o t a l i r r i g a b l e a r e a of 137,000 ha. The d e p a r t m e n t a l s o completed 4 major f l o o d

93

p r o t e c t i o n p r o j e c t s p r o v i d i n g p r o t e c t i o n f o r over 5 0 , 0 0 0 ha. However, i r r i g a t i o n r e s o u r c e s a r e n o t w e l l d e v e l o p e d . T h e r e i s a l a r g e q u a n t i t y of minor i r r i g a t i o n r e s o u r c e s w h i c h c o u l d be d e v e l o p e d f o r m u l t i p l e c r o p p i n g d u r i n g t h e d r y s e a s o n a s well a s f o r s u p p l e m e n t a l u s e d u r i n g t h e monsoon. A t p r e s e n t a f u l l b e n e f i t w h i c h s h o u l d b e a v a i l a b l e from t h e s e p r o j e c t s h a s n o t reached i t s p r i m e . Thus it i s recommended t h a t t h e s e p r o j e c t s b e given the highest p r i o r i t y for completion a t t h e earliest p o s s i b l e time, s i n c e d e v e l o p m e n t of w a t e r r e s o u r c e s would a c c e l e r a t e t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of m u l t i p l e c r o p p i n g as w e l l a s i n c r e a s e y i e l d , thereby increasing production. AFPTC i s t h e main a g e n c y r e s p o n s i b l e f o r p a d d y p r o c u r e m e n t on a n a t i o n a l b a s i s . The c h i e f c o n s t r a i n t s of m a r k e t i n g are: ( 1 ) i n a d e q u a t e s t o r a g e , (2) i n e f f i c i e n t p r o c e s s i n g and ( 3 ) in-adequate t r a n s p o r t a t i o n .
Market-.
Paddy w h i c h i s s o l d t o AFPTC d u r i n g h a r v e s t i n g s e a s o n i s o f t e n p i l e d i n t h e o p e n a n d m i l l e d s e v e r a l m o n t h s l a t e r . There

a r e l a r g e l o s s e s from i n s e c t s , r o d e n t s , s p o i l a g e , etc. I t i s s u g g e s t e d t h a t improvement i n s t o r a g e f a c i l i t i e s and m i l l i n g P r a c t i c e s c o u l d i n c r e a s e t h e s u p p l y of r i c e i n Burma.
F r o m o u r s t u d y i t was f o u n d t h a t w h e n p a d d y i s m i l l e d i t i s processed by m i l l s w h i c h a r e q u i t e i n e f f i c i e n t . O f f i c i a l s t a t i s t i c s s h o w a y i e l d o f a b o u t 5 4 p e r c e n t i n 1975-76 a n d 57 p e r c e n t i n 1974-75. A t p r e s e n t t h e y i e l d h a s become e v e n lower. A y i e l d o f 6 8 p e r c e n t s h o u l d be a t t a i n a b l e w i t h r i c e m i l l s which a r e i n r e a s o n a b l y good shape. The r i c e m i l l s i n Burma a r e t h e t r a d i t i o n a l s t o n e s h e l l e r - p o l i s h e r t y p e t h a t a r e i n poor c o n d i t i o n . P r o d u c t e f f i c i e n c y from these m i l l s i s low, e s p e c i a l l y c o n s i d e r i n g t h e low l e v e l o f r e p a i r a n d m a i n t e n a n c e . S p a r e p a r t s a r e v e r y d i f f i c u l t t o o b t a i n a n d a r e slow i n d e l i v e r y . However, t h e m i l l s a r e n o t t h e s o l e c a u s e o f low Production e f f i c i e n c y . Handling and c o n d i t i o n i n g p r i o r t o m i l l i n g a l s o e f f e c t s m i l l i n g y i e l d s . Modern r i c e m i l l s w o u l d

94

recover t h e s e l o s s e s . However, a complete improved approach t o a t o t a l handling system i s recommended t o i n c r e a s e t h e product q u a l i t y and system e f f i c i e n c y . T r a n s p o r t a t i o n i n Burma, p a r t i c u l a r l y land t r a n s p o r t a t i o n , is poor. Thus i t i s d i f f i c u l t t o t r a n s p o r t a g r i c u l t u r a l produce from t h e a r e a s of production t o t h e a r e a s of consumption and export. T h u s i t i s suggested t h a t improved t r a n s p o r t a t i o n should be considered. Farmers a r e faced w i t h a s i g n i f i c a n t d r a f t power s h o r t a g e , e s p e c i a l l y i n t h o s e a r e a s where m u l t i p l e cropping i s c a r r i e d out. P r e s e n t r e s o u r c e s could n o t s u p p l y t h e d r a f t power needed f o r l a r g e expansion i n m u l t i p l e cropping. I t i s suggested, t h e r e f o r e , t h a t major expansion of mechanization be considered and p r e p a r a t i o n s should be coordinated w i t h expansion i n i r r i g a t i o n and m u l t i p l e cropping.
D_r.aftSaUC

.

6.2

The National A g r i c u l t u r a l Research System

The n a t i o n a l a g r i c u l t u r a l r e s e a r c h a c t i v i t i e s i n Burma a r e l a r g e l y c a r r i e d o u t b y A R I and ARD u n d e r t h e AC. The a c t i v i t i e s

of t h e s e two i n s t i t u t i o n s a r e overlapping i n many i m p o r t a n t areas. While A R I i s t o c a r r y o u t t h e b a s i c r e s e a r c h and A R D t o c a r r y o u t a p p l i e d r e s e a r c h , b o t h d i v i s i o n s a r e a c t i v e l y engaged i n b r e e d i n g of HYV r i c e and o t h e r i m p o r t a n t crops.

A R I w i t h i t s well-equipped l a b o r a t o r i e s and c e n t r a l i z e d l o c a t i o n should g i v e s p e c i a l a t t e n t i o n t o k i n d s of r e s e a r c h works

t h a t require both l a b o r a t o r y and f i e l d f a c i l i t i e s . ARD w i t h i t s 20 c e n t r a l f a r m s a n d 2 0 s e e d f a r m s , h a s a l a r g e r a r e a f o r f i e l d work and t h u s should c o n c e n t r a t e on seed production and d i s t r i bution.

95

The research a c t i v i t i e s of A R I a n d ARD s h o u l d be c o m b i n e d a s a n A g r i c u l t u r a l R e s e a r c h S e r v i c e s ( A R S ) . ARS, w i t h i t s headq u a r t e r s a t Y e z i n , s h o u l d be r e s p o n s i b l e f o r a l l a g r i c u l t u r a l research a c t i v i t i e s a n d p r o d u c t i o n of breeders' seed.
The s t a f f a t Y e z i n s h o u l d c o n t i n u e t o u s e t h e f a c i l i t i e s of t h e c e n t r a l farms where t h e y a r e n e e d e d .

The major c o n s t r a i n t f o r increased research a c t i v i t i e s a t A R I i s t h e l a c k of q u a l i f i e d s c i e n t i s t s , h a v i n g o n l y two PhDs a n d t e n MSs among t h e r e s e a r c h s c i e n t i s t s . T h u s s c i e n t i f i c s t a f f a t Y e z i n s h o u l d be u r g e n t l y i n c r e a s e d t o t h e a u t h o r i z e d s t r e n g t h w i t h q u a l i f i e d s c i e n t i s t s s o t h a t t h e a c t i v i t i e s of A R I s h o u l d

continue successfully. Due t o i n e f f i c i e n t u s e o f a v a i l a b l e water s u p p l y , m u l t i p l e c r o p p i n g c o u l d n o t b e c a r r i e d o u t e f f e c t i v e l y . Therefore, a new d i v i s i o n f o r w a t e r management s h o u l d b e a d d e d t o t h e p r e s e n t f i v e disciplines a t ARI.
The p r e s e n t c e n t r a l farms s h o u l d b e s t r e n g t h e n e d i n a n

a t t e m p t t o assist i n a d v a n c e d a g r i c u l t u r a l r e s e a r c h r e s u l t i n g i n improved production.
A d d i t i o n a l s t a f f p o s i t i o n s a t t h e r e g i o n a l r esear ch c e n t e r s , p a r t i c u l a r l y i n t h e p l a n t p r o t e c t i o n areas s h o u l d be provided.

6.3

R e l a t i o n s w i t h t h e I n s t i t u t e of A g r i c u l t u r e
The u n i v e r s i t y l e v e l t e a c h i n g I A s h a r e s t h e same c a m p u s w i t h One of t h e b a s i c i d e a s o f moving A R I from Rangoon a n d I A

ARI.

from Mandalay t o Y e z i n was t o p r o m o t e c l o s e w o r k i n g r e l a t i o n s b e t w e e n t h e two i n s t i t u t i o n s . A t p r e s e n t , c o m m u n i c a t i o n s b e t w e e n t h e U n i v e r s i t y a n d A R I o c c u r o n l y on a n i n f o r m a l b a s i s . There i s n o f o r m a l a g r e e m e n t c o v e r i n g t h e w o r k i n g norms. The AC a n d p a r t i c u l a r l y A R I officials participate i n curriculum planning a t

96
t h e I A a n d t h e G e n e r a l M a n a g e r o f A R I i s a member o f b o t h t h e

a c a d e m i c and a d m i n i s t r a t i v e b o d i e s of I A . Some A R I p e r s o n n e l g i v e o c c a s i o n a l l e c t u r e s a t I A and some I A l e c t u r e r s and s t u d e n t s v i s i t ARI t o study t h e research a c t i v i t i e s . Nevertheless, t h e major advantages o f t h e neighboring s i t u a t i o n s a r e n o t exploited. Any d i r e c t c o l l a b o r a t i o n , e s p e c i a l l y r e q u i r i n g t h e s h a r i n g o f resources, is often d i f f i c u l t .

sugauma
F o r m a l i z a t i o n o f a w o r k i n g a g r e e m e n t between A R I and I A s h o u l d be examined a t t h e e a r l i e s t o p p o r t u n i t y .
Direct c o l l a b o r a t i o n a n d s h a r i n g o f r e s o u r c e s would b e o f b e n e f i t t o t h e j u n i o r r e s e a r c h w o r k e r s o f A R I w i t h BAg degrees. T h e y c o u l d a t t e n d t h e Master's c o u r s e w o r k a t I A a s p a r b t i m e s t u d e n t s and work on t h e i r r e s e a r c h p r o g r a m s f o r a t h e s i s a t A R I .

ARI s c i e n t i s t s w i t h p o s t g r a d u a t e degrees s h o u l d be a p p o i n t e d a s p a r t - t i m e p r o f e s s o r s . It c o u l d b e r e p o r t e d t h a t a t p r e s e n t , negotiations a r e progressing.
6.4 M u l t i l a t e r a l and b i l a t e r a l a s s i s t a n c e p r o j e c t s w i t h r e s e a r c h components
A number o f b i l a t e r a l l y and m u l t i l a t e r a l l y f u n d e d a i d

p r o j e c t s h a v e been e s t a b l i s h e d i n o r d e r t o a s s i s t a g r i c u l t u r e research w i t h i n t h e country.
A l l these o r g a n i z a t i o n s f i r s t send s u r v e y t e a m s t o n e g o t i a t e with the national authorities for utilizing t h e available funds m o s t e f f e c t i v e l y i n c a r r y i n g o u t t h e p r o j e c t s . A s t u d y o f many p r o j e c t s s h o w s t h a t a r o u n d 30 p e r c e n t o f t h e f i n a n c i a l s u p p o r t i s

u t i l i z e d f o r f o r e i g n c o n s u l t a n c y , w h i l e 15 p e c e n t i s a l l o t e d f o r t r a i n i n g and 45 p e r c e n t f o r e q u i p m e n t .

4

97

v
C o n s u l t a n t s r e c r u i t e d f o r t h e p r o j e c t s a r e o f two categories l o n g - t e r m a n d s h o r t - t e r m c o n s u l t a n t s . Many l o n g term c o n s u l t a n t s p r o v i d e d v a l u a b l e a s s i s t a n c e i n e s t a b l i s h i n g i m p r o v e m e n t p r o g r a m s . The i m p l e m e n t a t i o n of t h e p r o j e c t c o u l d b e c a r r i e d o u t more e f f e c t i v e l y and e f f i c i e n t l y w i t h t h e h e l p o f t h e c o n s u l t a n t . It was a l s o found t h a t b i o l o g i c a l m a t e r i a l s from t h e I A R C s c o u l d be o b t a i n e d m o r e e a s i l y .

--

There have been i s o l a t e d c a s e s o f c o n s u l t a n t s b e i n g badly c h o s e n , a n d cases of c o n s u l t a n t s who had d i f f i c u l t i e s i n a d a p t i n g t o n a t i o n a l c o n d i t i o n s . The q u a l i f i c a t i o n s of some of t h e c o n s u l t a n t s d o n o t meet t h e r e q u i r e m e n t s o f t h e n a t i o n a l c e n t e r s , a n d i n some c a s e s c o n s u l t a n t s o f s e c o n d o r t h i r d c a l i b e r h a d t o b e accepted d u e t o a s h o r t a g e of t h e r e q u i r e d p e r s o n n e l . I n such c a s e s i t was f o u n d t h a t e f f e c t i v e e f f i c i e n c y was n o t o b t a i n e d .

N a t i o n a l c e n t e r s s h o u l d e x a m i n e c a n d i d a t e s more c a r e f u l l y and select those w i t h r e l e v a n t overseas experience t o avoid t h i s i n the future. The short-term c o n s u l t a n t s a s s i g n e d f o r t h e p r o j e c t s were u n a b l e t o g i v e m u c h a s s i s t a n c e t o t h e national c e n t e r s due t o t h e s h o r t d u r a t i o n of t h e a s s i g n m e n t . Most o f t h e a v a i l a b l e t i m e was u t i l i z e d f o r s t u d y i n g t h e n a t i o n a l c o n d i t i o n s and c o l l e c t i n g m a t e r i a l s from t h e n a t i o n a l c o u n t e r p a r t s f o r w r i t i n g u p a r e p o r t .

-

Q u a l i f i c a t i o n s and experience o f t h e t e c h n i c a l a s s i s t a n c e s h o u l d be weighed c a r e f u l l y .
A d e s c r i p t i o n of l i v i n g and w o r k i n g c o n d i t i o n s u n d e r w h i c h

c o n s u l t a n t s w i l l be r e q u i r e d t o o p e r a t e and a d e l i n e a t i o n o f a l l r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s s h o u l d be i n c l u d e d i n t h e r e q u e s t f o r p r o p o s a l and c o n t r a c t .

The c o n t r i b u t i o n of f u n d s f o r c o n s u l t a n c y s h o u l d n o t be a f i x e d one a n d t h e p r o v i s i o n of e x p e r t c o n s u l t a n c y s h o u l d b e a c q u i r e d o n l y when needed.

xlai3mg
AC as a whole is i n u r g e n t need of w e l l - q u a l i f i e d a g r i -

c u l t u r a l s c i e n t i s t s . To f u l f i l l t h i s d e f i c i e n c y , A C i s s e n d i n g many of i t s s c i e n t i f i c s t a f f f o r t r a i n i n g t o d i f f e r e n t I A R C s and u n i v e r s i t i e s t h r o u g h i n t e r n a t i o n a l l y a i d e d p r o j e c t s . However, many of t h e s e t r a i n i n g c o u r s e s are of a n o n - d e g r e e , short-term n a t u r e and c o u l d be regarded o n l y a s a m e a n s o f t r a i n i n g s u b j e c t m a t t e r s p e c i a l i s t s f o r e x t e n s i o n . A g e n e r a l s h o r t a g e of s t a f f , p a r t i c u l a r l y a s h o r t a g e of a d e q u a t e l y t r a i n e d r e s e a r c h s t a f f , is o n e of t h e major c o n s t r a i n t s l i m i t i n g s u s t a i n e d g r o w t h i n a g r i cultural productivity. T h i s n e e d e d i n c r e a s e i n t r a i n e d s t a f f is b e i n g a d d r e s s e d by t h e b i l a t e r a l and m u l t i l a t e r a l p r o j e c t s and o t h e r i n t e r n a t i o n a l d o n o r s t h r o u g h v a r i o u s s c h o l a r s h i p programs. The t r a i n i n g c o m p o n e n t s of a l l t h e p r o j e c t s have a m o u n t e d t o a b o u t 20 PhDs a n d 69 MSs. I n Burma, s e l e c t i o n e x a m i n a t i o n s a r e h e l d f o r p o s t g r a d u a t e t r a i n e e s and t h e c a n d i d a t e s have t o f u l f i l l t h e f o l l o w i n g requirements: ( 1 ) a minimum o f 3 y e a r s s e r v i c e , (2) minimum p o s t e q u i v a l e n t t o v i l l a g e t r a c t manager, ( 3 ) minimum q u a l i f i c a t i o n Bachelor ( c a n s t u d y o n l y f o r Master's degree) and (4) a s c h o l a r f o r PhD m u s t p o s s e s s a Master's d e g r e e . C o n s e q u e n t l y , new employees of t h e AC who o t h e r w i s e would be a v a i l a b l e a r e n o t c o n s i d e r e d e l i g i b l e . Also, s t a f f who h a v e had foreign training are not eligible for further overseas training u n t i l t h e y have s e r v e d a t l e a s t 3 y e a r s w i t h t h e AC a f t e r s u c h training.

,

99

T h e a b o v e r u l e s s h o u l d be l o o k e d i n t o w i t h a v i e w t o improvement.
The p r i m a r y s e l e c t i o n e x a m i n a t i o n s h o u l d b e opened t o a l l a g r i c u l t u r a l g r a d u a t e s u n d e r A C , s o t h a t some f r e s h g r a d u a t e s w i t h e x c e l l e n t q u a l i f i c a t i o n s w i l l be r e c r u i t e d f o r f u r t h e r

.

study.

AC s h o u l d i d e n t i f y c a n d i d a t e s f o r s c r e e n i n g and E n g l i s h

l a n g u a g e t e s t i n g s h o u l d be c a r r i e d o u t a s e a r l y a s p o s s i b l e .

As a l r e a d y s t a t e d , 45 p e r c e n t o f t h e p r o j e c t e x p e n d i t u r e i s

-

u t i l i z e d f o r t h e p u r c h a s e o f e q u i p m e n t . I n o u r s t u d y i t was noted t h a t f i e l d machinery such as t r a c t o r s , l a n d l e v e l e r s , b u l l d o z e r s , p l a n t e r s , etc. a r e e f f e c t i v e l y u s e d . However, some of t h e e x p e n s i v e h i g h l y t e c h n i c a l l a b o r a t o r y i n s t r u m e n t s a t t h e research c e n t e r s and a t AI were p u r c h a s e d w i t h o u t d u e c o n s i d e r a t i o n and some a r e o n l y s p a r i n g l y used. Much o f t h e e q u i p m e n t d e s t i n e d f o r t h e r e g i o n a l c e n t e r s was s t i l l u n d e l i v e r e d . I t was a l s o f o u n d t h a t some o f t h e l a b o r a t o r y a p p a r a t u s r e q u i r e s a c o n s t a n t s o u r c e of r e g u l a t e d v o l t a g e e l e c t r i c a l i n p u t . T h i s i s n o t y e t a v a i l a b l e a t Yezin.

S i n c e m u l t i p l e c r o p p i n g i s d e v e l o p i n g on a s i g n i f i c a n t s c a l e t h e r e w i l l be a n e e d f o r s h a r p e x p a n s i o n i n d r a f t p o w e r f o r l a n d p r e p a r a t i o n . Thus e x p a n s i o n o f d r a f t power s h o u l d be c a r r i e d out F u t u r e e q u i p m e n t n e e d s s h o u l d b e c a r e f u l l y assessed and i f n e c e s s a r y more a l l o c a t i o n s h o u l d b e made f o r t r a i n i n g component.

E m p h a s i s s h o u l d b e g i v e n t o more f i e l d e q u i p m e n t , r a t h e r than laboratory apparatus i n t h e future.

100

6.5

R e l a t i o n s h i p s between I A R C s and N A R S

Burma h a s b e e n c o l l a b o r a t i n g w i t h t h e I A R C s f o r o v e r 1 5 y e a r s . Burma's m o s t i n t e n s i v e c o o p e r a t i o n w i t h t h e I A R C s o f t h e CGIAR system h a s been w i t h I R R I , from which t h e f i r s t improved r i c e v a r i e t y IR-8 was received i n 1966.
A t t h a t t i m e t h e l o c a l r i c e y i e l d p e r a c r e w a s a r o u n d 30 b a s k e t s a n d IR-8 y i e l d e d a b o u t t h r e e t o f o u r t i m e s t h e l o c a l y i e l d i n s o m e a r e a s . T h u s IR-8 w a s g i v e n t h e l o c a l n a m e Y a g y a w , meaning o v e r a hundred. B u t d u e t o i t s s h o r t s t a t u r e and u n a c c e p t a b l e p a l a t a b i l i t y t h e a c c e p t a n c e by farmers was f o u n d t o be v e r y slow. S i n c e t h e n , Burma h a s r e c e i v e d many HYVs o f r i c e from I R R I .

i

C o o p e r a t i o n i s i n c r e a s i n g w i t h o t h e r c e n t e r s a t p r e s e n t , and t h e n e x t l a r g e s t programs a r e probably t h o s e w i t h ICRISAT and C I M M Y T whose sorghum a r e r e g u l a r l y s o w n r and f r o m whence m i l l e t a n d g r o u n d n u t m a t e r i a l s a r e drawn. C o o p e r a t i o n i s a l s o m a i n t a i n e d w i t h C I P (potatoes), I I T A (food legumes), C I A T ( f o d d e r l e g u m e s ) , and I B P G R f o r r e g u l a r p u b l i c a t i o n s .
The Whole T o w n s h i p Crop P r o d u c t i o n S p e c i a l Program w h i c h s o u g h t t o a d o p t HYVs d e v e l o p e d b y I A R C s a n d NARS t o t h e n a t i o n a l e n v i r o n m e n t a n d c l i m a t e i s s u c c e s s f u l and c a n b e c o m p a r e d t o t h e m i r a c l e o f t h e Green R e v o l u t i o n e x p e r i e n c e d i n many c o u n t r i e s .

m e st ions, The p r e s e n t i n t e r n a t i o n a l r e l a t i o n s s h o u l d b e a c c e l e r a t e d a n d c o l l a b o r a t i o n i n seed e x c h a n g e s h o u l d be f a c i l i t a t e d .

101

Appendix

b s o n s visited U Khin Win, Managing D i r e c t o r , AC
U Aung Khin, G e n e r a l Manager, A R I , Yezin U Hla Shwe, G e n e r a l Manager, A d m i n i s t r a t i o n D i v i s i o n U T i n H l a i n g , G e n e r a l Manager, E x t e n s i o n D i v i s i o n U Hla Myint 0 0 , General Manager, P l a n n i n g D i v i s i o n Dr. M y i n t T h e i n , General Manager, ARD U Mya Maung, P r o j e c t D i r e c t o r , MOPP, E x t e n s i o n D r . Tun S a i n g , Deputy G e n e r a l Manager, A R I , A d m i n i s t r a t i o n U Ohn Kyaw, D e p u t y G e n e r a l Manager, A R I , Rice D i v i s i o n U Hla Than, Deputy G e n e r a l Manager, A R I , P l a n t P a t h o l o g y U Myat H t w e , Deputy G e n e r a l Manager, A R I , F i b e r Crop D i v i s i o n U P e Maung T h e i n , Deputy G e n e r a l Manager, A R I , Food Legume

Division U Tun H l a i n g , Deputy G e n e r a l Manager, A R I , S u g a r Crop D i v i s i o n U Saw Win Kyi, Deputy G e n e r a l Manager, A R I , O i l s e e d Crop D i v i s i o n U Hla Than, Deputy General Manager, H e a d q u a r t e r s , P l a n n i n g U Ba Toke, Deputy G e n e r a l Manager, H e a d q u a r t e r s , P l a n n i n g U Nyi N y i , Deputy G e n e r a l Manager, H e a d q u a r t e r s , P l a n n i n g Dr. Kyi Win, Deputy G e n e r a l Manager, H e a d q u a r t e r s , P l a n n i n g U Aung Thaung, P r o j e c t D i r e c t o r , I r r i g a t i o n and Water Management Extension U T i n Aung, Deputy G e n e r a l Manager, C A D T C , E x t e n s i o n U Sann M y i n t , Deputy G e n e r a l Manager, E x t e n s i o n U Hla Shwe, Deputy G e n e r a l Manager, A R D , R e s e a r c h U Tun H l a , Deputy G e n e r a l Manager, A R D , A d m i n i s t r a t i o n U C h i t Ngwe, Deputy G e n e r a l Manager, A R D , Seed Technology U Kyaw Win, A s s i s t a n t General Manager, H e a d q u a r t e r s , P l a n n i n g D r . Thaung Tun H l a i n g , A s s i s t a n t G e n e r a l Manager, H e a d q u a r t e r s , Planning Daw Mya Mya. A s s i s t a n t G e n e r a l Manager, Mandalay Farm U Min Aung, Farm Manager, Hmawbi U T h e i n Han, A s s i s t a n t G e n e r a l Manager, A R I , Food Legume D i v i s i o n U Kyaw S h i n , A s s i s t a n t G e n e r a l Manager, A R I , Agronomy D i v i s i o n

102

Places v&id&,gd Various Divisions at Agriculture Corporation Head Office, Rangoon Agriculture Research Institute, Yezin Institute of Agriculture, Yezin Applied Research Division, Gyogon, Rangoon Mandalay Central Research Farm Central Agriculture Development Training Center, Hlegu

,

t

6

103
. .

References

A g r i c u l t u r e Corporation (19781, Research P r o j e c t s f o r
4

A g r i c u l t u r a l Research D i v i s i o n , ARD,

Rangoon.

( I n Burmese)

i

---ARI,
I__---

(19831, Q u a l i t y Crops Released by A R I ,

4

Yezin.

( I n Burmese)

(19831, S p e c i a l Whole Township Crop Production

Development Programme i n Burma, E x t e n s i o n Division. ( I n

Burmese)
(19831, Production S i t u a t i o n o f Some I m p o r t a n t Crops

i n Burma from 1962-63 t o 1982-83, Extension Division.
English)
I -

(In

( 1 9 8 4 ) , Annual Report, 1983-84.

( I n Burmese)

I -

(19841, I m p o r t a n t Research F i n d i n g s of A R I i n 1983-84,

A R I , Yezin.

( I n Burmese)

(19841, Research F i n d i n g s from 1978-79 t o 1983-84.
A R D , Rangoon.
,
--wu

( I n Burmese)

(19841, Plan f o r C u l t i v a t i o n o f Sorghum, A R I , Yezin.

( I n Burmese)
---.-

(19841, Proposed Plan f o r C u l t i v a t i o n o f Maize, A R I ,

Yezin.

( I n Burmese)
(19841, C e n t r a l A g r i c u l t u r e Development T r a i n i n g

Center.
~

( I n Burmese)

(1984), P r o j e c t P r o g r e s s C h a r t s , Planning, Management and E v a l u a t i o n Division.

( I n Burmese)

104

(19841, Management of A g r i c u l t u r a l Research and Development and A c t i v i t i e s of Applied Research Division.
( I n English)

(19841, A c t i v i t i e s of D i v i s i o n s i n B r i e f , A R I . English)
(n.d.1,

(In
t

P r o j e c t Documents of M u l t i l a t e r a l and
( I n English)

t

-

Bilateral Projects.

Chaudhri, M. Y. (19781, Maize Improvement i n Burma, Problems, P r o s p e c t s and S t r a t e g i e s . Escuro, P. B. (19781, Suggested S t r a t e g i e s f o r Rice Improvement i n Burma. Escuro, P. B. (19781, A Rice Improvement Programme f o r Burma. Food and A g r i c u l t u r e Organization of t h e U n i t e d Nations (19831, Evaluation Study on National A g r i c u l t u r a l Research: Country Report on Burma, UNDP/FAO Evaluation S e r v i c e , Rome. Gomaa, A. A . (19831, Wheat Improvement Programme f o r Burma. Karve, A . D. (19821, The Groundnut Improvement Program f o r Burma.
M i n i s t r y of Planning and Finance (1980 and 19851, Report t o t h e
P y i t h u Hluttaw,

1979-80 t o 1984-85 ( y e a r l y p u b l i c a t i o n ) .

P a l i s , R.

K.9

e t a l . (19831, Summary Report on IRRI-Burma Co-

o p e r a t i v e Research P r o j e c t . Rajan, S. S. (19781, Food Legume Improvement i n Burma, Problems, P r o s p e c t s and S t r a t e g i e s . United S t a t e s Agency f o r I n t e r n a t i o n a l Development (19831, Review of A g r i c u l t u r a l Research i n Burma.

105

Win, K y i and Yi, Maung Maung (19821, Some S t a t i s t i c s i n A g r i c u l t u r e : Burma. P l a n n i n g , Management and E v a l u a t i o n

Division, Agriculture Corporation.

,

ISSN 0257-3148 ISBN 0-82 13-086 1-0